The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Southern Miss
Baseball Team Falls To No. 21 Southern Miss 6-3
4/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 26, 2003
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Left fielder Jason Lowery went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a double to help lead No. 21 Southern Miss (33-11, 16-4 Conference USA) to a 6-3 victory over UAB (21-20, 6-13 C-USA) in Conference USA baseball action Saturday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park.
Blazer starter Jon Burgett (4-3) took the loss for UAB after working seven innings and setting the UAB single-game record for strikeouts with 15. He gave up six runs on six hits and walked eight. Cody Cillo came on in relief of Burgett in the eighth inning and gave up one hit to go along with one strikeout. UAB's 16 total strikeouts on the day also set the team record for strikeouts in a game.
"Jon (Burgett) just baffled their hitters," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Southern Miss is one of the best hitting teams in the conference, so he gave us a great performance. He gave up some walks that turned into runs, but to shut them down like that was just a great day for him. I'm proud for him, but at the same time I am very disappointed in the fact that a guy breaks the school record for strikeouts and still gets a loss. That is just kind of the way things are going right now."
UAB got on top 1-0 in the top of the first inning when right fielder Kyle Leon singled through the right side, scoring center fielder Sam Clark.
Southern Miss tied the score in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded, Burgett hit right fielder Clint King, bringing in shortstop Matt Shepherd.
The Golden Eagles went up 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Lowery singled through the right side, scoring catcher Kevin Coker.
Southern Miss added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Center fielder Jeff Cook singled through the right side, scoring Shepherd for the Golden Eagles' first run of the inning. Lowery later scored on a wild pitch by Burgett.
The Golden Eagles took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Coker singled through the left side, bringing in first baseman Marc Maddox.
UAB answered with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Second baseman Drew Goneke scored the Blazers' first run of the inning on a wild pitch by Golden Eagle reliever John Nicholas. Later in the inning Leon brought in left fielder Mitch Jones with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Southern Miss' final run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth when designated hitter Brad Willcutt singled in Shepherd.
Golden Eagle starter Anthony Dewitt (7-1) picked up the win after working seven and one-third innings and allowing three runs, none of which were earned, on six hits. He walked two and struck out one. Austin Tubb pitched the ninth inning and got his second save of the series and seventh of the season after retiring UAB in order in the top of the ninth inning.
UAB will try to avoid a series sweep by Southern Miss Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pete Taylor Park.
