BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — Andrew Purdy delivered a game-breaking three-run triple in the ninth inning to cap a five-RBI night, and the Alabama Crimson Tide pulled away late for a 12-6 victory over the UAB Blazers on Tuesday at Jerry D. Young Memorial Field.

The Crimson Tide (27-11) snapped a three-game losing streak, using a 10-hit attack to overcome a sloppy defensive performance that included four errors and several other miscues. The Blazers (23-14) capitalized on those mistakes to hang within a run through the middle innings but could not contain Alabama’s offense down the stretch.

Purdy, Alabama’s first baseman, was the catalyst. After a quiet start, his two-run homer to right field in the fourth inning extended Alabama’s lead to 5-1. He then sealed the win in the ninth, clearing the bases with a triple down the right-field line off reliever Tyler Haines, turning a tense 8-6 advantage into a comfortable final margin.

The most important sequence of the game came in the top of the sixth inning, with Alabama clinging to a 5-4 lead. The Crimson Tide loaded the bases with one out against UAB reliever R. Miller. Designated hitter Caleb Barnett then ripped a double to left-center field, driving in all three runners to push the Alabama lead to 8-4. That hit provided critical breathing room after UAB had scored three unearned runs in the fourth and another in the fifth, largely fueled by Alabama errors.

Brady Neal set the table all night for Alabama, going 4 for 5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Justin Lebron added a solo home run in the first inning and a sacrifice fly. Sam Mitchell, JT Blackwood and Hagan Banks combined for 6 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief for the Crimson Tide, with Mitchell earning the win.

UAB was led by Logan Beaver, who went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. The Blazers scored six runs on eight hits, but only two of those runs were earned. Isaac Warrick provided a bright spot out of the UAB bullpen, throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-6 UAB victory, though the Crimson Tide entered as significant favorites according to the service’s ELO probability system.

Alabama looks ahead to a pivotal Southeastern Conference road series at Texas beginning Friday. UAB travels to face South Florida for an American Athletic Conference series starting the same day. The two Birmingham-area schools will meet again next Tuesday, April 21, in Tuscaloosa.