UAB lost 2-0 to Southern Miss in game one of the Conference USA Tournament on Thursday afternoon at MGM Park. Nick Sandlin (9-0) earned the win for Southern Miss marking his second complete game shutout of the Blazers this season. UAB (21-32) threatened in the top of the second inning as Thomas Johns laced a leadoff double off the wall in left field before Stephen Dobbs followed with a single one batter later. After a sacrifice bunt from Brett Blackwood, Price Visintainer was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out but the Blazers left them stranded without scoring a run. Southern Miss (40-15) scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning as Matt Wallner came around to score on a sacrifice fly after he drew leadoff walk to make the game 1-0. The Golden Eagles pushed their second and final run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning as Hunter Slater hit a bases loaded single into right field to make the contest 2-0. Ryan Ruggles (2-4) took the loss for the Blazers as the senior pitched 5.0 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts. Ryan Wesson pitched 3.0 innings in relief of Ruggles and allowed no runs on hits marking his second consecutive scoreless outing. Johns led the Blazers at the plate reaching base three times on a pair of hits and a walk. Carter Pharis and Dobbs provided the only other hits for the Blazers.(courtesy/UAB)