The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Alabama State
Baseball Teams Tops Alabama State In Season Opener
2/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 11, 2003
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - UAB (1-0) used 13 runs on 14 hits to top Alabama State (2-4) 13-4 in the Blazers' season opener at Paterson Field. The Blazers used six runs off five hits to take a commanding lead in the top of the fourth inning and never looked back.
"I thought we played with a lot of intensity," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "We had a lot of new players on the field, so there were a lot of guys going out and trying to get acclimated to playing baseball. We did a great job of situation hitting."
Alabama State went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run to center field by first baseman Brian Nichols.
UAB evened the score in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly to left field by right fielder Kyle Leon, scoring third baseman Steve Martin.
UAB took a 7-1 advantage in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Martin singled to right field to score second baseman Seth Rollin. Center fielder Sam Clark then drew a walk, which scored catcher Eugene Rodriguez. Left fielder Mitch Jones was able to score a play later after a wild pitch by Tresmen Smith. First baseman Daniel Hill then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to center field.
The Blazers put three more runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning. After shortstop Josh Miljavac walked, Jones homered to left field to put UAB up 9-1. Martin singled to the shortstop and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Smith. Clark then singled to right field, allowing Martin to score his third run of the day and put the Blazers up 10-1.
Alabama State answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners on second and third, catcher Eric Duff reached on a fielding error by Rollin, allowing center fielder Ashley Allen to score. Nichols then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring left fielder Joseph Moffat.
UAB would add three runs in the top of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, Martin reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Miljavac to score and gave Martin his third RBI of the day. Leon then delivered a double to left field, scoring Clark and Jones.
Alabama State added one run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Adrian Holloway, who was pinch hitting for shortstop Brian Doub, singled to right field, scoring right fielder Donald Johnson.
Cody Cillo (1-0), the Blazers' starter, picked up the win. Cillo pitched four innings and allowed only one run on four hits. He walked none and had a career high six strikeouts.
Rusty McIntyre, Jeff Brown, Chris Thorup, Lucas Trotter and Kevin Brannon each saw one inning of action on the mound for UAB. The group allowed three runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three.
"When Daniel Hill hit the home run in the fourth inning that really broke the game open and that is something we had been lacking," said Giangrosso. "I was real pleased with our aggressiveness on the bases, we turned a couple of big double plays and overall, I thought our pitching staff threw pretty well."
Freddie Williams took the loss for Alabama State after working three and one-third innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Williams walked four and struck out five.
UAB returns to Young Memorial Field for its home opener against Mississippi Valley State Friday at 6 p.m. The Blazers will also face the Delta Devils Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.
