The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
PURDUE
Purdue Rallies To Upset No. 32 UAB
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Purdue (2-5) began the ninth inning down 6-3, but was able to load the bases with only one out. Blazer reliever Matt Fowles hit center fielder Mike Coles, allowing first baseman Eric Wolfe to score the Boilermakers' first run of the inning. Fowles then hit catcher Ben Fritz, allowing Matt Bush, who had pinch hit for right fielder Andy Dahl, to score. The Blazers then brought in right-hander Chris Thorup who surrendered a two-RBI single to third baseman Simon Klink.
UAB (10-4) threatened in the bottom of the ninth with runners on first and second and nobody out, but Boilermaker reliever Trae Dauby was able to retire the side and pick up his first save of the season.
Fowles (0-1) took the loss for UAB after giving up the go-ahead run. Blazer starter Griffin Zarbough worked five innings and allowed three runs on four hits, walked four and struck out two.
"We just let the game get away," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "The pitchers were not trying to pitch in. The balls just got away from them. I thought when we went ahead, we had control of the game. It was just one of those things that got away from us. We'll have to bounce back tomorrow."
Boilermaker reliever Martin Havens (1-0) picked up the win for Purdue after pitching an inning and allowing only one hit and walking one. Purdue starter Scott Byrnes worked five innings and allowed three runs on five hits, walked four and struck out seven.
UAB took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when first baseman Daniel Hill doubled to left center field, scoring second baseman Josh Miljavac.
Purdue tied the score in the top of the fourth inning when second baseman Eric Osborn singled to right field, bringing in Klink.
The Boilermakers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run homer to left by Coles.
UAB gained a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Catcher Eugene Rodriguez's sacrifice fly to center field allowed designated hitter Jacob Legg to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Later in the inning, third baseman Zac Ward doubled to left field, scoring Hill and Levi Patmon, who was pinch running for left fielder Matt Womble.
The Blazers added two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning when right fielder Cole Helms singled up the middle, scoring Hill and Patmon. UAB led 6-3.
UAB and Purdue will play game two of the three game set Saturday at 2 p.m. and will close the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
Both games will be broadcast via the world wide web on the Blazers' official athletics website, www.uabsports.com. UAB's C-USA opening series against Louisville, March 19-21, will also be broadcast on the web.
For those who are not Yahoo! subscribers, a monthly subscription can be purchased for $4.95 per month and a season-long subscription may be purchased for $14.95. To listen to the broadcast, click on either "UAB Audio Broadcasts" or "Multimedia" from the UAB athletics website's main page and follow the links.
