The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at East Carolina*
Blazers Split Final Two Games Of Series With East Carolina
5/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 11, 2003
GREENVILLE, N.C. - UAB (24-25, 9-17 Conference USA) spilt the final two games with East Carolina (30-21-1, 16-11 C-USA), winning Saturday's suspended contest 12-8 and losing Sunday's final game 12-9 in Conference USA baseball action at Harrington Field. The Pirates won two games out of the three-game set.
UAB got out to a 4-0 lead in the day's second game in the top of the first inning. Right fielder Kyle Leon singled to center field, allowing left fielder Mitch Jones to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. First baseman Daniel Hill followed with a three-run homer to left field.
East Carolina answered with a run in the bottom of the first when first baseman Ryan Norwood doubled to left center field, scoring left fielder Jamie Paige.
The Blazers added two runs in the top of the second inning on Hill's two-RBI single to left field that scored center fielder Sam Clark and Leon. UAB led 6-1.
The Pirates cut the Blazer lead to three in the bottom of the second on Norwood's two-RBI single to right field that scored catcher John Poppert and second baseman Kevin O'Sullivan.
ECU took a 7-6 lead with a four-run fourth inning. Paige singled in Poppert for the Pirates' first run of the inning. Center fielder Ryan Jones then grounded out to second base, allowing right fielder Ben Sanderson to score from third base. Norwood followed with a two-run homer to left center field.
UAB tied the score in the top of the sixth inning when Jones singled to right center field, bringing in shortstop Josh Miljavac.
The Pirates regained the lead with a four-run sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Blazer reliever Cody Cillo walked third baseman Mark Minicozzi and designated hitter Adam Witter, allowing Jones and Norwood to score the first runs of the inning. Poppert followed with a two-RBI double down the left field line that scored shortstop Darryl Lawhorn and Minicozzi. ECU led 11-7.
The Blazers cut the deficit to two runs in the top of the eighth inning on second baseman Drew Goneke's two-RBI single to left field that scored Miljavac and Clark.
East Carolina took a 12-9 lead in the bottom of the eighth on O'Sullivan's single through the right side that scored Brian Cavanaugh, who was pinch running for Witter.
Pirate reliever Greg Bunn (4-5) picked up the win after working five and two-thirds innings and allowing three runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out five. Pirate starter Ashley Capps pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up four runs on four hits. Neal Sears came on in relief of Capps and worked two and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on three hits to go along with two walks and two strikeouts.
Jeff Brown (3-3) took the loss after coming on in relief of Blazer starter Jon Burgett in the fourth inning. Brown pitched two and two-thirds innings and gave up three runs, two of which were earned, on two hits and issued two walks. Burgett worked three and two-thirds innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out three.
Saturday's game was suspended due to inclement weather in the area in the top of the sixth inning with the Blazers leading 10-4.
After the game resumed Sunday, East Carolina got a run when Lawhorn scored on Minicozzi's foul fly to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning. UAB led 10-5.
The Blazers took a 12-5 lead in the top of the eighth inning on third baseman Drew Connell's two-RBI double to right field that scored Goneke and Leon.
East Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Lawhorn singled up the middle, allowing pinch hitter Luke Cherry and pinch hitter Taylor Williams to score the Pirates' first runs of the inning. Pinch hitter Mike Harrington scored the Pirates' final run on a wild pitch by Blazer reliever Griffin Zarbough.
Zarbough worked four innings in relief of Blazer starter Scott Gibson and picked up his first save of the season. He allowed four runs on six hits, walked two and struck out five. Gibson (6-2) pitched all five innings for the Blazers Saturday and gave up four runs, only two of which were earned, on six hits to pick up the win. He recorded two strikeouts and did not issue a walk.
Brinson (3-3) worked three and two-thirds innings for East Carolina Saturday and allowed six runs, five of which were earned, on six hits for the loss. He walked four and struck out six.
In Saturday's action, UAB got on top 2-0 in the top of the third inning. Sam Clark led off the inning with a solo home run to right center field. Later in the inning, after stealing third base, Jones was able to score on O'Sullivan's errant throw on the steal attempt.
East Carolina answered with a run in the bottom of the third when Paige singled to center field, bringing Minicozzi.
UAB took a 6-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Catcher Eugene Rodriguez grounded out to the shortstop, allowing Connell to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Miljavac followed with a single that scored designated hitter Matt Womble. Goneke later singled up the middle, scoring Miljavac. Jones scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch by Pirate starter Will Brinson.
The Blazers got out to an 8-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run homer to left center field by Rodriguez.
East Carolina answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Paige singled to right field, bringing in O'Sullivan for the Pirates first run of the inning. Jones followed with a single to right field that scored Sanderson. Paige scored the Pirates' final run of the inning on a wild pitch by Gibson. UAB led 8-4.
UAB increased its advantage to six in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run homer to left field by Leon.
The Blazers lost an 11-8 decision to ECU in Friday's hour-and-40-mintue-delayed game.
"I think the delays we had over the weekend factored into things a little bit," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Our bullpen just let us down this weekend. Griffin (Zarbough) came in today and pitched well in the first game, but overall our bullpen just couldn't seem to hold them. We made a couple of crucial mistakes in the field that hurt us, but we battled right back. We just seem to have effort mistakes sometimes, trying to do too much. I still think this a good team, a solid team, but we just can't seem to get everything together."
The Blazers next play at cross-town rival Samford Tuesday at 6 p.m.
