The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
ALABAMA
Baseball Team Falls To No. 17 Alabama
3/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 26, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - No. 17 Alabama (19-5, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) used 15 runs on 16 hits to claim a 15-8 victory over UAB (18-6, 3-2 Conference USA) in baseball action Wednesday evening at Young Memorial Field.
Third baseman Nathan Meiners started the scoring for the Tide in the top of the second inning with a single to left center field that scored right fielder Beau Hearod and first baseman Zac Welch. Left fielder Grant Redding later singled through the left side, scoring designated hitter Al Hecklinski. Later in the inning, second baseman Allen Rice singled to left field, bringing in Meiners and Redding. Shortstop Adam Pavkovich followed with a double down the left field line that scored center fielder Travis Garner and Rice. Welch later doubled to right center, scoring Pavkovich and Hearod for the final two runs of the inning. Alabama led 9-0.
UAB answered in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run home run to left field by second baseman Seth Rollin.
Alabama added three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Welch started the scoring for the Tide with a double to left center field that scored Rice and Pavkovich. Meiners later hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Hearod.
The Crimson Tide took a 13-2 lead on a solo home run to left field by Redding in the top of the fifth inning.
The Blazers added a run in the bottom of sixth inning on a solo home run to left field by right fielder Kyle Leon.
Alabama added two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Pavkovich recorded his third RBI of the game when he doubled to left field, allowing Rice to score his third run of the game. Meiners later got his fourth RBI of the day on a single through the right side that scored Pavkovich.
UAB answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Second baseman Seth Rollin scored on a wild pitch by Jared Woodward. Left fielder Mitch Jones then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed catcher Brett Tilley to score.
The Blazers again cut into the deficit in the bottom of the eighth inning when Rollin singled in Leon.
UAB put up two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Center fielder Sam Clark grounded out to the shortstop, bringing in second baseman Drew Goneke from third base. Leon then singled up the middle, scoring third baseman Drew Connell.
Woodward (2-0), the Tide starter, picked up the win for Alabama after working seven innings and allowing five runs on seven hits. He gave up no walks and had six strikeouts.
Blazer starter Chris Thorup (1-2) took the loss for UAB after pitching one and one-third innings and allowing seven runs, six of which were earned, on four hits. He walked two and struck out three. Griffin Zarbough, Rusty McIntyre, Ryan Huffman, Kevin Brannon, Lyle Northington and Allen West all saw action on the mound in relief for the Blazers.
"When you give up nine runs in an inning against a team like Alabama you are in trouble," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "The second inning just got away from us. Chris (Thorup) went out and threw real well the first inning and had his stuff working pretty good. In the second inning, he just lost it. That is just one of those things that happens and that's baseball. Chris is a good pitcher and he will bounce back. The rest of the game, I thought we kind of played them even. You just can't give up a nine spot in the second inning."
UAB returns home to Young Memorial Field Friday to take on Memphis in a three-game Conference USA series. Friday, the teams play at 7 p.m., Saturday's game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and Sunday's first pitch will be at 1 p.m.
"Our guys are looking forward to hosting Memphis in a three-game series," said Giangrosso. "We will have to play a whole lot better than we did tonight. We will have to pitch better, which we are capable of doing. It's a big series for us."
