Kubal delivers winning double

TUSCALOOSA | It was a situation that might have made another hitter nervous — but not Alex Kubal.

The University of Alabama centerfielder and the No. 9 hitter in the Crimson Tide order, Kubal delivered a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift UA to a 6-4 win over UAB at Sewell-Thomas Stadium on Tuesday night.

It was just what Kubal — who had contributed to an earlier UAB rally with a dropped fly ball — was expecting.

'When I get runners in scoring position and the game's on the line, I feel like it's over,' Kubal said. 'You've got to be confident in that situation.

'I love it. It's the reason you play baseball.'

Kubal's double came on a scorching line drive that nicked the glove of UAB third baseman Luke Stewart before rolling into left field.

'I thought I had hit it by him, but it scared me a little when I heard it hit the glove,' Kubal said.

The eighth-inning rally gave starting pitcher Miers Quigley his second consecutive mid-week win. Quigley (3-1) worked eight innings, allowing eight hits. He gave up four runs, but only one was earned.

'Quigley pitched well enough,' said Tide head coach Jim Wells. 'We had some shaky defense behind him, but Kubal was able to get a big hit. We just wanted to hit the ball hard somewhere in that situation, and Kubal did.'

UAB relief pitcher Benjy Waite hit the Tide's Ryan Rhoden with a pitch with one out, then walked Tyler Odle to set up the Tide's winning rally. Jake Smith popped an infield fly for the second out, but both runners were able to advance, setting the stage for Kubal's decisive double.

Tide reliever Nathan 'Peanut' Kilcrease worked the ninth inning for his first save of the year.

UAB took an early 1-0 lead on Stewart's RBI single in the top of the second inning, but the Crimson Tide responded quickly against Blazer starter Dustin Colburn,

The Crimson Tide tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning as Brandon May scored on a sacrifice fly by Odle.

Alabama (16-12) then scored three times in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Alex Kubal and Josh Rutledge started the inning with back-to-back singles. After Ross Wilson struck out, Alex Avila was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. May popped up, but Bentley was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run. A walk to Ryan Rhoden forced in another run. Odle capped the rally with his second RBI of the game on a single.

UAB (9-16) tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, thanks in large part to two costly Crimson Tide errors, including Kubal's dropped fly ball in centerfield. UAB first baseman Ryan Keedy had an RBI single in the inning and was 3-for-5 in the game, raising his average to .460 on the season.

The two teams will meet again tonight at Regions Park in Hoover. Junior Casey Kebodeaux is scheduled to start for the Crimson Tide.

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0225.