The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
CINCINNATI*
Baseball Team Tops Cincinnati 10-3
3/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB used 10 runs on 15 hits to claim a 10-3 victory over Cincinnati in Conference USA baseball action Sunday afternoon at Young Memorial Field. The win gave the Blazers two victories in the three-game series.
Cincinnati took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when third baseman Brad Dorrman singled to left center, scoring second baseman Mark Muscenti.
UAB answered with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. First baseman Daniel Hill started the scoring for the Blazers with a three-run homer to left field. Later in the inning, shortstop Josh Miljavac singled to right field, bringing in right fielder Matt Womble. Left fielder Mitch Jones then singled in catcher Eugene Rodriguez. UAB led 5-1.
The Blazers took a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly to right field by second baseman Seth Rollin that brought in center fielder Sam Clark.
UAB added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Hill posted his fourth RBI of the day on a single up the middle that scored Clark.
The Bearcats got two runs in the top of the fifth inning on a pair of solo home runs by left fielder Jake Smith and center fielder Justin Niefer.
The Blazers went up 9-3 after posting two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Designated hitter Kyle Leon singled up the middle, scoring third baseman Steve Martin. Later in the inning, Womble singled down the left field line, bringing in Leon.
UAB added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Rollin singled to left field, scoring Hill.
Scott Gibson (4-0) remained perfect on the season after tossing his first complete game of the year. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out six.
"We are happy that we won the series," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Our goal from the beginning was to win every home series. Even though we had a little setback yesterday, our guys came out and we able to put a five spot up in the bottom of the first and I really think that set the tone for the game. The middle of our order really swung the bat well today and we were real pleased with that. We got a very, very solid game pitched by Scott (Gibson) and we played pretty good defense behind him."
Bearcat starter Kyle Markle (0-5) took the loss for Cincinnati after pitching two-thirds of an inning and allowing five runs on five hits. Mark Mueller came on in relief of Markle and worked three innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out one. Bryan Wood pitched one and two-thirds innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out two. Rob Reel worked the final two and two-thirds innings and gave up one run on three hits and recorded two strikeouts.
UAB next travels to Jacksonville, Ala. Tuesday to take on in-state rival Jacksonville State at 6:30 p.m.
