The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
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at Mississippi State
Baseball Team Falls To No. 5 Mississippi State
4/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 1, 2003
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Fifth-ranked Mississippi State (23-3-1, 8-1 Southeastern Conference) used 13 runs on 17 hits to defeat No. 31 UAB (21-7, 6-2 Conference USA) 13-4 in baseball action Tuesday evening at Dudy Noble Field.
The Bulldogs used a six-run second inning to take the lead and never looked back.
Left fielder Jon Mungle was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run to lead Mississippi State. Shortstop Matthew Maniscalco went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run for the Bulldogs.
UAB was led by catcher Eugene Rodriguez who was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Right fielder Kyle Leon posted two RBI for the Blazers.
Bulldog starter Jeff Lacher (4-0) picked up the win after working five innings and allowing two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits. He walked two and struck out seven.
Griffin Zarbough (0-1), who was making his first start of the season, took the loss for UAB. Zarbough worked one and one-third innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Kevin Brannon, Lyle Northington, Rusty McIntyre and Allen West all saw action in relief for the Blazers. West had the Blazer high in strikeouts for the evening, mowing down five of the six batters he faced.
"It was not a good game for us," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Mississippi State played well.
"We are trying to get some of our pitchers going because down the stretch we are going to need them. It is tough to run a guy out who hadn't pitched a lot and start him mid-week against Mississippi State. I thought Griffin (Zarbough) pitched out of the first inning and then in the second we give up a six spot and you just can't give up that many runs. Their pitching staff is not going to let you score that many runs. I thought Allen (West) threw well. I think down the road, he will help us.
"We can't get down about this game. We have to get ready to play Houston."
UAB next travels to Houston for a three-game Conference USA series against the Cougars, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.
