The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Belmont
Blazer Baseball Wins A Close One At Belmont
2/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2001
UAB starter Ross Dobbins shut out the Belmont Bruins (4-3) for seven innings to lead the UAB Blazers to a 3-2 victory Tuesday afternoon at Herschel Greer Stadium.
Belmont left-hander Alex Renes (0-1) matched right-hander Dobbins (2-0) for the first four innings before surrendering a run in the top of the fifth. Renes hit leadoff batter Al Hecklinski and then retired the next two batters before surrendering an RBI single to Blazer shortstop Mark Garner, giving UAB (3-2) a lead it would not relinquish.
Garner keyed the Blazers' two-run eighth inning as well, leading off with a single, stealing second and scoring as Belmont second baseman Scott Browning made a throwing error on Mitch Jones' bunt. Jones would then score on a single by designated hitter Brandon Isbell to make the score 3-0.
The Bruins rallied against Blazer reliever Clay Bush in the bottom of the eighth with two runs.
Bush would get two consecutive outs after walking pinch-hitter Gregg Whittaker to start inning. Belmont's Browning redeemed himself with a double down the left field line, advancing Whittaker to third. After hitting Eric Fruechtemeyer to load the bases, Blake Allen came on to pitch for UAB. Freshman Jason Warpool hit a two-run single to right field to score Whittaker and Browning and make the score 3-2. After walking Josh Brummett, Allen retired first baseman Dan Soukup on a grounder to second.
Allen would go on to retire the side in order in the ninth to preserve the victory and get his first save of 2001.
"That was a great young pitcher that pitched against us," commented UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso after the game.
"He has a good assortment of pitches and made some of our guys miss that usually don't come up empty."
Blazer first baseman Chris George also had another strong performance, extending his season hitting streak to five games with a pair of doubles. Garner has also hit safely in all five games for UAB this season.
The Blazers play at Vanderbilt Wednesday at 3:00 pm.
