The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
LOUISVILLE*
Louisville Rallies To Defeat UAB 7-5 In 10 Innings
3/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Louisville pushed across two runs in the top of the 10th inning to claim a 7-5 victory over UAB in Conference USA baseball action Saturday afternoon at Young Memorial Field. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for UAB.
Center fielder Boomer Whiting doubled down the left field line, allowing designated hitter Daniel Burton to score Louisville's first run of the 10th inning. Second baseman Nick Haley followed with a singled up the middle that brought in Whiting.
Brian Halford (2-0) picked up the win for Louisville (10-8, 1-1 C-USA) after coming on in relief of Cardinal starter Justin Valdes in the bottom of the eighth inning. Halford pitched two and two thirds shut-out innings. He struck out two batters without issuing a walk. Valdes worked seven and one-third innings and allowed five runs on 11 hits. He struck out three batters without issuing a walk.
Blazer reliever Eric Roberts (2-2) took the loss for UAB (13-6, 1-1 C-USA) after working two innings and giving up two runs on three hits. Roberts struck out a UAB career-high five batters and did not issue a walk. Blazer starter Jacob Legg pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits, walked two and struck out three.
UAB took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when first baseman Daniel Hill singled through the left side, scoring second baseman Josh Miljavac.
The Blazers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the second inning when right fielder Cole Helms singled up the middle, scoring left fielder Matt Womble and catcher Eugene Rodriguez.
Louisville got two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Rodriguez's errant pick-off throw to third base allowed third baseman Ryan McKinnon to score from third and left fielder Isaiah Howes to score from second.
UAB answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Helms collected his second RBI of the contest when he doubled to left center field, allowing Womble to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Later in the inning, center fielder Sam Clark singled up the middle, scoring Helms. UAB led 5-2.
The Cardinals countered with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Haley hit an infield single, allowing Howes to score Louisville's first run of the inning. First baseman Greg Taylor later scored on a wild pitch by Legg.
Louisville tied the score in the top of the seventh inning on McKinnon's sacrifice fly to right field that brought in right fielder Mark Jurich.
"We gave them two runs early," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "About mid-way through the game we had some very poor at bats. As the game went on, they (Louisville) had some good at bats. Our bullpen, at times, has been good, but they just couldn't get it done today. It boils down to trying to win the series tomorrow."
The series is now tied at one game apiece as UAB captured a 16-4 win Friday. The final game of the three-game set will be played Sunday at 1 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.
The game will be broadcast via the world wide web on the Blazers' official athletics website, www.uabsports.com.
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.
