The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-26
HAM STEVENS COMES
 WITHIN SCRATCH HIT 'OF A NO-HIT BATTLE
Doughty Bulldog TWirIer Blanks Union, g to 0, and WhiffS IS Men

Ham" Stevens lacked one little measley scratch hit, which almost might have as easily gone for an er- TOT or an out. of pitching a no-hir game against Union University on Berry Field Wednesday afternoon. Howard won to 0. The scratch in question that wrecked Hams" hopes of no-hit record was an easy roller to third base. that Brindley did not field fast enough and the runner. a fast man, beat it out by half a step. And there is the snaK on which Ham" snagged.
 The performance of Stevens was the prettiest piece of pitching ever witnessed on Berry Field. He struck out Is Union batters and on only two occasions did outfielders get to handle the ball. Thirty men at bat were all that Ham" required to get his 27 men down. One man reached first on Grigg's error, one got on when Lackey chose to get a man go- ing to second and one was walked. Stevens was mixing fast ones and slow ones in bewildering manner and the Union batters looked like public school players batting against him.
 The Bulldogs were held scoreless during the first two innings. but pushed one across when Lackey hit, went to second on Shelton's ground CT, got into a chase between second and third and reached third ;-:.d then jumped up and ran home which was left uncovered when Castellaw, the Union backstop, came down to take part in the chase. It was pretty piece of base running.
 Bulldogs Score Three.
 In the fourth. the Bulldogs con- nected six times safely in a row, but were only able to get over three runs. Brindley hit, Garfield hit and Brind- ley took third. Griggs hit and Brindley scored, Garfield taking third. Afford hit and Griggs and Bar field scored. Stevens and Lackey followed with singles filling the ond base and Wilde threw Afford out at the plate, Dawson flew out to right field anC Runyon forced Shell ton at second.
 In the fifth. the Bulldogs scored couple more. With one down. Bar lieu QOuUlcO, 8Ol one when the shortstop fumbled his grounder and Stevens crashed out a three bag ger.
 In the sixth. three more Bulldogs crossed the platter. With one down, Dawson singled and Runyon tripled, scoring him. Brindley singled, scor- ing Runyon and when Stewart let the sball get past him on the hit, Brindley took third. al Garfield sing led and took second when Baxter let his hit get by him, Brindley scoring.
 Evans went in for Union after the si tn and allowed the Bulldogs but one more hit during the lest two in- nings Garfield got a single off his delivery. s'
 Led The Attack.
 Barfie,d and stevens led the, att tack for the Bulldogs. Garfield got a double and three singles ut of five times up. Stevens got triple and two singles ut of the four times up.
 Stewart, center fielder, was the man that ruined Stevens no-hit game. Wilde, second baseman, was the only Unionist that failed to fall victim of Hams" curves for 8 strike out. Ft.-s
 The Bulldog Is appeased .-st,.ay. When Union was put on the Howard schedule the Bulldogs vowed to give them drubbing to get revenge for Q licking administered them on the gridiron. The beating handed the visitors Wednesday was complete and decisive.
 However, the Howardites will not have as easy sailing Thursday after no, Tie Union mentor says he will start the giant Evans, whi -itch- ed the last two innings Wednesday. He seems to have the stuff and the steam and will give the Bulldog trouble. ~
 Coach Cope says he wilt start either Stubbs or Bains in the secs ond game Thursday.