The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Houston*
Baseball Team Falls To Houston 4-3
4/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 4, 2003
HOUSTON, Texas - With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, center fielder Michael Bourn delivered the game-winning RBI with a single up the middle to lift Houston (15-15, 7-3 Conference USA) to a 4-3 victory over UAB (21-8, 6-3 C-USA) in Conference USA baseball action Friday evening at Cougar Field.
Bourn's single in the bottom of the ninth allowed shortstop Stuart Musslewhite to score the gamewinner.
UAB struck first with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Right fielder Kyle Leon singled through the middle to score shortstop Josh Miljavac and left fielder Mitch Jones to put the Blazers up 2-0. First baseman Daniel Hill then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring third baseman Steve Martin.
Houston tied the score in the bottom of the sixth inning. Third baseman Hyung Cho singled through the middle to score Bourn for the Cougars first run of the inning. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Lucas Trotter walked left fielder Matt Farrington, bringing in Cho.
Cougar reliever Ryan Wagner (1-4) picked up the win after working one-third of an inning and striking out one UAB batter. Cougar starter Brad Sullivan pitched five and two-thirds innings and allowed three runs on four hits, with six walks and five strikeouts. Brian Henderson came on in relief of Sullivan and worked three innings, giving up one walk and recording five strikeouts.
Jeff Brown (3-2) took the loss for UAB after coming on in relief of Blazer starter Lucas Trotter in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brown pitched two and two-thirds innings and allowed one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out four. Trotter worked five and one-third innings and allowed three runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out six.
"I thought we did a real good job against (Brad) Sullivan," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "We got his pitch count up. We just didn't make the plays late in the game and it got away from us. We needed to expand our lead and I thought their lefthander (Brian Henderson) came in and shut us down. They are tough to beat at home.
"I thought Jeff (Brown) came in and did a good job."
UAB and Houston will square off in the second game of the three-game set Saturday at 7 p.m.
