The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Ohio State (NBC Classic)
Baseball Falls In Extra Innings To Ohio State
2/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2002
STARKVILLE, Miss. -
Ohio State's Lance Rolston ?lined a single to left center field in the bottom of the 10th inning allowing Christian Snavely to score the winning run as the Buckeyes (3-0) closed out a perfect weekend with a 4-3 win over UAB (2-6) at Polk-Dement Stadium Saturday.
It
was the third win in a row for the Buckeyes (3-0) at the NBC Classic hosted by Mississippi
State while the Blazers lost their third-consecutive game to slip to 2-6 on the
year.
The Buckeyes struck first, scoring two runs on the board in the bottom half of the first. Drew Anderson led off the inning with a single up the middle and later stole second. Two batters later, Nick Swisher lined a single to right field that rolled under the glove of UAB's Kyle Leon. Anderson came into score and was followed by Swisher after the error and late throw by Leon.
UAB responded with three runs of its own in the top of the second. Al Hecklinski led off with a walk and Matt Gaulden followed with an error charged to OSU's Brett Garrard. Mark Garner loaded the bases when he was hit by a ?Nate Smith pitch. With three on and no outs, Buckeye starter Smith looked to get out of the jam with two-consecutive strike outs but hit Chad House with a pitch to push across the first run. J.B. Fesmire then singled, scoring Gaulden and Garner to give UAB a 3-2 lead. Smith closed the second with a strike out.
The Buckeyes loaded the bases with a Derek Kinnear walk, an Anderson single to right center and a stolen base and a walk by Doug Dendinger all with two outs. UAB got out of the jam when Brooks Graff grounded out to first.
UAB went three and out in the top of the third giving the Buckeyes a chance to tie. OSU, with two outs, got an infield single from Snavely to start the rally. Snavely stole second and came in to score on a Rolston single to left center. The inning ended when UAB catcher Hecklinski caught Rolston stealing.
From
the fourth through the ninth innings, neither team could score. The Blazers
recorded two hits with four total base runners while the Buckeyes put up six
runners on two hits. UAB went three and out in the final three innings of the
game setting the stage for the Buckeye win.
Offensively,
Snavely, Anderson and Rolston chipped in two hits to the OSU total of 10 with
Rolston adding two RBI. Chris Hanners pitched six scoreless innings in relief of
Smith allowing one hit and striking out two to garner the first win of his
collegiate career.
UAB returns to action Wednesday, beginning an 11-game home stand with a 6:00 pm game vs. Birmingham-Southern at Young Memorial Field.
