The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Jacksonville St
Baseball Falls at Jacksonville State
2/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2002
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Starter C.R. Palmer pitched four hitless innings to earn his first win of the season as Jacksonville State claimed a 7-2 win over UAB Tuesday.
Palmer (1-0) was picked up offensively by his outfielders, as Heith Comer, Matt Ruckdeschel and Ben Phillips each had two hits.
The Gamecocks, coached by former UAB assistant coach Jim Case, finished with 10 hits, while UAB had five.
UAB starter Ryan Huffman (0-1) suffered the loss for the Blazers, which used five pitchers in the game.
Jacksonville State took the lead after Comer led off a four-run third inning with a single. Ruckdeschel also singled to give the Gamecocks runners at first and second with no outs.
After a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Ben Padilla and a walk to shortstop Evan Conley, the bases were loaded for Phillips. Huffman then walked Phillips to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
JSU would tack on three more runs in the inning, on back-to-back RBI singles by Travis Suereth and Scott Smith.
Gamecock reliever John Chamblee allowed the first UAB hit in the fifth inning, as Blazer third baseman Matt Gaulden doubled to left center.
The Gamecocks added to their 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth,scoring two more runs. Conley led off the inning with a single to left and scored off a Phillips triple down the right field line.
Phillips would score the Gamecocks' sixth run off a wild pitch by UAB reliever Tony Falls. UAB scored one run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Leon, and Al Hecklinski had a solo homerun in the top of the ninth for the final margin.
The Blazers (2-3) will be in action again this weekend, playing Ohio State and Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.
