The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
KENTUCKY
Baseball Team Tops Kentucky 3-2 In 10 Innings
3/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 2, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - With the score tied at two and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, Kentucky pitcher Jeff Archer threw a wild pitch that bounced off home plate, allowing shortstop Josh Miljavac to score and give the Blazers a 3-2 victory over Kentucky (4-5) in baseball action Sunday afternoon at Young Memorial Field.
UAB (13-0) is off to its best start in school history, off to the best start in Conference USA history and is currently on the school's longest winning streak at 14 games.
UAB took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Right fielder Kyle Leon grounded out to the shortstop, allowing third baseman Steve Martin to score from third base.
Kentucky answered with two runs in the top of the seventh inning when right fielder Brad Pickrell singled to center field, scoring catcher Caleb Brock and shortstop Joe Naill.
The Blazers tied the score in the bottom of the seventh when catcher Eugene Rodriguez singled to right field, scoring designated hitter Matt Womble.
Ryan Huffman (1-0) came on in the 10th inning and picked up the win for the Blazers. He retired the Wildcats in order and recorded one strikeout. Blazer starter Scott Gibson worked six innings and gave up no runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two. Jeff Brown came on in relief of Gibson and pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs, none of which were earned, on three hits. Griffin Zarbough pitched two and one-third innings, walking two and striking out one.
"It was a tough day to hit (due to the wind)," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "I thought Scott (Gibson) did a great job, giving us six innings and not allowing Kentucky to score. "Eugene (Rodriguez) had a huge hit to tie the game. We put ourselves in a good position to win in the 10th inning and everybody executed. I thought Jeff (Brown), Griffin (Zarbough) and Ryan (Huffman) all pitched well. That really helped us because we got some good innings out of guys that had not had a lot of work."
Archer (0-1) took the loss for the Wildcats after working two innings and allowing one run on two hits. He walked two and struck out three. Wildcat starter Seth Stanley pitched seven innings and allowed two runs, one of which was earned, on six hits. He walked two and struck out three.
UAB returns to Young Memorial Field Tuesday to take on No. 12 Mississippi State at 6 p.m.
"Tuesday will be a great challenge," said Giangrosso. "It will be a good test for our players and we are excited to have them (Mississippi State) on the schedule."
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