The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Saint Louis
UAB Baseball Wins C-USA Opener Over Saint Louis
3/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2001
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - First baseman Chris George drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded single with in the bottom of the ninth inning as UAB defeated Saint Louis 4-3 in both teams' Conference USA opener Friday evening at Young Memorial Field.
UAB (13-5, 1-0) battled back from a 3-0 deficit for its tenth win in its last 11 games.
Saint Louis (8-8, 0-1) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as first baseman Ben Caffey drew a one-out walk, stole second base, and scored on a single by third baseman Brandon Shockley.
The Billikens extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning.? The first two batters, shortstop Paul Miles and left fielder Curt Evans both drew walks off Blazer starter Ross Dobbins, and Miles later scored on a throwing error by UAB second baseman Nick Clark.? Saint Louis added a second run in the inning on an RBI single by right fielder Jim Bredenkoetter that scored Evans.
UAB struck back with two runs in the bottom of the third, both of which scored as Saint Louis first baseman Caffey was unable to handle a sharply-hit ground ball by Blazer right fielder Eric Lyon, committing an error that allowed Mitch Jones to score from third and Mark Garner to score from second.
The Blazers tied the game in the fourth inning as third baseman Matt Gaulden singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Saint Louis starter Wes Jaillet, and scored on a single to right center by Garner.
In the bottom of the ninth, right-hander Brad Wehrfritz came on in relief of Jaillet. After retiring Garner on a line out to second base, Wehrfritz allowed singles by center fielder Christian Reimers and Jones, and hit second baseman Keith Barnes with a pitch, loading the bases for George.?? The Blazer first baseman drove Wehrfritz's first pitch into left center field, scoring Reimers and ending the game.?
Reliever Joe Yarbrough (3-1) worked the final three and one-third innings for the victory, allowing no runs on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts.?
Wehrfritz (2-2) worked one-third of an inning, allowing one run on three hits.
The two teams will continue their three-game C-USA series Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
