The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Saint Louis
Baseball Wins Game One Of Double-Header Over Saint Louis
4/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 6, 2002
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - UAB second baseman Seth Rollin had six hits, scored two runs and drove in two more
as the Blazers split a double-header with Saint Louis Saturday, winning game
one 8-3 and dropping game two 4-1.
The teams were originally
scheduled to play single games Saturday and Sunday, but weather forecasts
calling for heavy rain in the St. Louis area Sunday forced the change.
Rollin, a freshman from Montgomery,
Ala. (Jeff Davis HS) went four-for four in game one, scoring two runs and
driving in one as UAB snapped a 10-game losing streak.
The Blazers took command
early, scoring four runs on three hits and taking advantage of three Saint
Louis errors in the top of the second inning. Third baseman Matt Gaulden led off with a single, then advanced to third on a
one-out single by Rollin. Shortstop Mark Garner drove in Gaulden on a squeeze play, which moved
Rollin to second. The next batter, left fielder Mitch Jones, reached on an error by Saint Louis shortstop Pat
Steinhoff, which allowed Garner to
move to third and Rollin to score.?
The next UAB batter, center
fielder Chad House, also
attempted a suicide squeeze bunt but was unable to put the ball in play, however,
the Billikens badly misplayed the ensuing rundown, allowing Garner to score
from third.? Jones then stole third
and scored on a throwing error by Billiken catcher Andrew Slania, making the score 4-0.
UAB scored three more runs
on one hit in the third, this time aided by two Saint Louis errors.? Rollin drove in designated hitter Kyle
Leon with a single in that inning
and later scored as from third base as Billiken reliever Dave Gontorius hit House with the bases loaded.? Gontorius then walked first baseman Matt
Womble, bringing in another run.
Saint Louis broke into the
scoring column in the bottom of the third inning, scoring twice on back-to-back
RBI doubles by left fielder Kurt Evans and third baseman Ryan Murphy, making the score 7-2.
The Billikens added a third
run in the sixth as Evans led off the inning with a triple and scored on a
groundout by right fielder Jim Bredenkoetter.
UAB scored an insurance run
in the top of the eighth as Garner singled and then scored on a squeeze bunt by
Womble.
Blazer starter Ross
Dobbins (3-2) worked seven complete
innings for the victory, allowing three runs on six hits, with one walk and six
strikeouts.
Saint Louis starter Zach
Placzek (0-4) took the loss, working
two and 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs - only two earned -- on five
hits one walk and one strikeout.
In game two, UAB again took
an early lead, scoring a run as Leon reached on an error by Murphy and came
home on an RBI single by Rollin.
Saint Louis tied the game in
the fourth inning on an RBI single by designated hitter/pitcher Corey Lawson, which scored Bredenkoetter from third base.
The Billikens took a 3-1
lead in the bottom of the seventh as Steinhoff led off with a walk and scored
on the next play as UAB catcher Brad Bamberg's wild throw on a bunt by second baseman Jake
Friederich wound up in the right
field corner, allowing Friederich to advance to third.? Friederich later scored on an error by
Rollin.
The final Saint Louis run of
game two came in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Steinhoff, which
brought in Lawson, giving the Billikens a 4-1 lead.
Lawson got into and out of
trouble in the top of the ninth.?
UAB right fielder Eric Lyon reached
on an error by Murphy to start the inning, and moved to third on a single by
Leon.? After Lawson struck out
Gaulden, pinch hitter Jeremy Moran
drew a walk to load the bases.?
Lawson then struck out Rollin for the second out and retired Garner on a
fly ball to right field to end the game.
Lawson (6-1) worked a
complete game, allowing one unearned run on four hits, with one walk and 11
strikeouts.
UAB freshman Jeff Brown (0-1) took the loss in his first collegiate start,
allowing three unearned runs on five hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.
After the double-header,
Saint Louis' record is 13-15 (4-8 Conference USA) while UAB is 9-22 (2-10
C-USA).
