The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
CHARLOTTE*
Baseball Team Splits Doubleheader With Charlotte
5/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 3, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB (23-23, 8-15 Conference USA) split a doubleheader with Charlotte (19-23, 9-12 C-USA), winning game two 6-5 and losing the first contest 10-1 in Conference USA baseball action Saturday afternoon at Young Memorial Field. With today's win, UAB took two games out of the three-game set.
Charlotte went up 1-0 in the top of the second inning in game two when third baseman Brad Lamm laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored first baseman Jamie Rusco.
UAB took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. Shortstop Seth Rollin singled through the right side, bringing in third baseman Drew Connell for the Blazers' first run of the inning. Left fielder Mitch Jones later singled to left center field, scoring designated hitter Matt Womble.
The Blazers added two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rollin singled to right center field, allowing Womble to score the first run of the inning. Jones later singled in Rollin. UAB led 4-1.
Charlotte tied the score in the top of the fifth inning on a three-run homer to right field by second baseman George Sandel.
The Blazers gained a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run to left field by Womble.
The 49ers tied the score in the top of the eighth inning when left fielder Adam Willard reached on a fielding error by Drew Goneke, allowing right fielder Randall Poplin to score from third base.
UAB took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth when center fielder Sam Clark singled to left center field, allowing catcher Eugene Rodriguez to score the game-winning run.
Cody Cillo (5-4) picked up the win for UAB after coming on in relief of starter Scott Gibson in the eighth inning. Cillo retired the final five batters in order in one and two-thirds innings of work, including two strikeouts. Gibson went seven and one-third innings and allowed five runs on nine hits. He recorded three strikeouts and did not issue a walk.
Mark Ferguson (1-4) took the loss for Charlotte after coming on in relief of 49er starter Matt Savage. Ferguson pitched four innings and gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out four batters and did not issue a walk. Savage went three and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out two. Charlotte took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning in game one when Poplin grounded out to third base, allowing Sandel to score from third base.
The 49ers added a run in the top of the fourth inning when catcher Alex Derhak singled in designated hitter Brad Erwin.
Charlotte took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Sandel scored the first run of the inning from third base when the Blazers put out center fielder Thomas Bowker on a steal attempt. Erwin later singled to right field, bringing in Poplin.
The 49ers went up 5-0 in the top of the seventh inning on Erwin's sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Sandel to score his third run of the game.
Charlotte posted a five-run eighth inning. Shortstop Adam Floyd singled up the middle, bringing in Derhak for the 49ers first run of the inning. Poplin picked up this third RBI of the game with a two-RBI single up the middle that scored Floyd and Sandel. Clark's errant relay throw from center field on the play also allowed Bowker to score. Erwin got his third RBI of the game when he singled up the middle and scored Nick Blackman who was pinch running for Poplin.
UAB answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth when first baseman Daniel Hill doubled to left field, scoring Jones.
Justin Brown (4-1) tossed his second complete game of the season and picked up the win for Charlotte. He allowed one run, which was unearned, on six hits. He walked four and struck out two.
Blazer starter Jon Burgett (4-4) took the loss after working seven and two thirds innings and allowing eight runs on 12 hits. He walked three and struck out seven.
"We are real happy to win the series," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Friday night's game was a hard fought contest and today the second game was hard fought. I didn't think we played particularly well in the first game today. You could see the momentum shift after the first game today. We got a great pitching performance out of Scott (Gibson) again and we came up with some big two-out hits again in the second game today. Cody (Cillo) did a great job of closing the second game out. I'm happy to win the series."
UAB returns home to Young Memorial Field Tuesday to take on in-state rival Jacksonville State at 7 p.m.
