The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
Baseball Drops Heartbreaker To East Carolina
3/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 29, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
East Carolina right fielder Ryan
Jones scored the winning run with
two out in the top of the tenth inning on a ground ball by left fielder Jamie
Paige as the Pirates rallied to
defeat UAB 3-2 in game one of a three-game Conference USA series Friday evening
at Young Memorial Field.
East Carolina (17-6-1, 2-4-1
C-USA) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by
shortstop Luke Cherry that scored
designated hitter Nick Wedemeyer.
The Pirates held the lead
until the bottom of the seventh inning, when UAB first baseman Matt Womble led off with a home run to right center field, tying
the score at 1-1.?
UAB (8-17, 1-6 C-USA) took
the lead in the bottom of the eighth, as second baseman Seth Rollin slammed a two-out home run to right field, making
the score 2-1.
Blazer reliever Tony
Falls walked Paige to open the ninth
inning. After pinch-hitter Brian Cavanaugh moved Paige to second with a sacrifice bunt, Falls struck out third
baseman Bryant Ward for the
second out, but gave up a sharp single to right center field to catcher Clayton
McCullough, which tied the score at
2-2.
Reliever Neal Sears retired the Blazers in order in the bottom of the
ninth, sending the game to extra innings.
Falls struck out the first
two batters he faced in the top of the tenth, but then ran into trouble, giving
up a single to Jones and another to first baseman Darryl Lawhorn that moved Jones to third.
After right-hander Cody
Cillo replaced Falls on the mound,
Paige stepped in and slapped a high bouncer over Cillo's head to second
base, which was booted by Blazer shortstop Mark Garner, allowing Jones to score the go-ahead run.
UAB put two runners on base
in the bottom of the tenth, but Rollin's two-out line drive was speared
by Pirate first baseman Lawhorn to end the game.
ECU's Sears (3-0)
worked one and 2/3 innings in relief to get the win, with Greg Bunn retiring Rollin in the tenth for his third save of
the season.
UAB's Falls (2-2) took
the loss, working two and 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on three hits, with
one walk and five strikeouts.
Blazer starter Joe
Yarbrough worked seven complete
innings, allowing one run on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
East Carolina starter Sam
Narron worked eight complete
innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with no walks and six strikeouts.
The two teams continue the
weekend series Saturday at 2:00 pm CST.
