Baseball Torches Tigers, 12-2

Sunday, April 21

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 PM

UAB

Memphis

Baseball Torches Tigers, 12-2

4/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

April 21, 2002

Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. ? UAB batters hit a season-high four home runs and starting pitcher Jeff Brown limited Memphis to two runs on three hits as the Blazers defeated the Tigers 12-2 in Conference USA baseball action Sunday afternoon at Nat Buring Stadium.

The game was called at the end of the eighth inning under the 10-run ?mercy? rule.

It was the first C-USA series win of the 2002 season for the Blazers (13-26, 5-13 C-USA), who won Friday?s 15-inning marathon 9-8 at AutoZone Park.

Memphis dropped to 14-22 overall and 7-11 in C-USA play.

Brown (1-1), a freshman from Montgomery, Ala. (Calvary Christian Academy), making his third collegiate start, did not allow a hit for five and 2/3 innings. The no-hitter was lost with two outs in the sixth inning when Tiger pinch-hitter Jay Fik drove a home run over the right center field wall. Brown allowed another solo home run to catcher Barrett Smith in the bottom of the seventh inning, and a single to the next batter, left fielder Ryan Martin.

In his first collegiate victory and his first complete game, Brown worked eight complete innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

UAB jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first inning as left fielder Kyle Leon slammed a two-run homer to left field and third baseman Matt Gaulden followed with a solo shot to dead center, giving the Blazers a 3-0 lead.

The Blazers scored three more in the second, with the big blow coming on a three-run homer by right fielder Eric Lyon.

UAB added three more in the third inning on a three-run homer to right field by designated hitter Joe Yarbrough, who was making his first career start as a non-pitcher. Yarbrough, a senior from Hazel Green, Ala., is a regular member of the Blazers? pitching rotation with 10 starts this season. He pinch hit in the ninth inning of Saturday?s game vs. the Tigers, driving in two runs with a single.

Memphis starter Daniel de Armas (2-2) was replaced after allowing six runs on five hits in two innings. The Tigers? first reliever, right-hander Matt Krabbe, allowed three runs on two hits ? one of which was Yarbrough?s three-run homer. Right-hander Nick Rogers then took the mound and slowed the Blazers down considerably, allowing two runs on five hits in four and 1/3 innings.

Lyon, Leon and Yarbrough each had three RBI in the game for the Blazers. Shortstop Mark Garner drove in one run with a fielder?s choice in the seventh inning, and catcher Justin Miller also had an RBI single in the seventh.