The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
OAKLAND
Baseball Wins Thriller In Game One With Oakland
3/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB outfielder Mitch Jones hit a one-out pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give UAB a dramatic 4-3 comeback victory in game one of a double-header with Oakland (Mich.) University Friday afternoon at Young Memorial Field.
Jones, a junior from Chelsea High School in suburban Birmingham, had been struggling offensively in the early season and came into Friday's action batting .037. He found himself out of the starting lineup for the first time Friday, but took advantage of his opportunity when it came along.
UAB (3-6) trailed 3-0 early in the game and 3-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and runners on second and third base in the eighth, Blazer third baseman Matt Gaulden tied the game with a two RBI single off Oakland reliever Kyle Boehm, scoring first baseman Matt Womble and center fielder Chad House.
Boehm then gave way to left-handed reliever Brent Brown, who retired UAB left fielder Quincey Williams on a pop fly to first base to end the inning.
UAB reliever Tony Falls then struck out the side in the top of the ninth to set up Jones' dramatics.
After Blazer shortstop Mark Garner led off the bottom of the ninth with a fly out to right field, the right-handed hitting Jones was inserted into the lineup to pinch hit for catcher Brad Bamberg, who is restricted to batting left-handed after shoulder surgery in the off season.
Jones then drove a 1-0 pitch from Brown over the left center field wall for the game-winning run.
Falls (1-0), a true freshman from Montgomery, Ala. (Lee HS) earned his first win of the season with his one inning of work, striking out three batters and walking one. UAB starter Joe Yarbrough worked five complete innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits, with one walk and six strikeouts. Redshirt freshman reliever Ryan Huffman worked three innings, allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Brown (0-2) was the losing pitcher, working two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run on one hit - the home run to Jones.
Oakland (0-7) took a 2-0 lead in the in the top of the third as right fielder Nick DiPonio hit a solo homer and left fielder David Alexander doubled in designated hitter Michael Trosen, all with two out.
The Grizzlies made it 3-0 in the fifth inning as Trosen doubled home DiPonio, also with two out.
UAB scored its first run of the game in the sixth as Womble drew a one-out walk and scored on right fielder Kyle Leon's double into the right field corner.
