The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
SAMFORD
Samford Upsets No. 32 UAB
3/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford pushed across eight runs in the top of the 10th inning to claim a 13-5 victory over No. 32 UAB in baseball action Tuesday evening at Young Memorial Field.
The Bulldogs' eight-run inning began when right fielder Matt Alling singled through the left side with the bases loaded, allowing left fielder Richard Bishop to score. First baseman Garrett Rice then reached on a fielding error by Blazer second baseman Josh Miljavac, allowing center fielder Justin Worthington to score from third base. Catcher Eric Hollis followed with a double to right field that scored third baseman Michael Collins and Alling. Designated hitter Sam Stewart later hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Rice. Bishop later got his second hit of the inning as he doubled to left center field, bringing in Hollis and shortstop Joe Denson. The Bulldogs' final run of the inning came on Worthington's single to right center field that allowed Bishop to score his second run of the inning.
Samford (1-10) held a 5-0 advantage going into the bottom of the seventh inning before the Blazers mounted a comeback.
UAB (10-3) posted three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Third baseman Zac Ward singled to right field, allowing catcher Eugene Rodriguez and Dan Stucky, who was pinch hitting for shortstop Seth Rollin, to score the Blazers' first runs of the inning. Right fielder Cole Helms followed with a single through the right side that scored Ward. Samford led 5-3.
The Blazers cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the eighth inning when left fielder Matt Womble doubled to right field, scoring J.R. Bond, who was pinch running for designated hitter Jacob Legg.
UAB tied the score in the bottom of the ninth inning when with two outs and runners on second and third, first baseman Daniel Hill reached on a fielding error by Bulldog second baseman Trey Moody, allowing Miljavac to score from third base.
The loss ended a three-game winning streak for UAB and stopped a 10-game losing skid for Samford.
UAB got five runs on seven hits and committed a season-high eight errors. Samford posted 13 runs, eight of which were earned, on 15 hits and committed one error.
Blazer reliever Eric Roberts (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season after working two and two-thirds innings and allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on three hits. He walked two and tied a UAB career high with four strikeouts. Blazer starter Adam Price pitched five innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out three.
Bulldog reliever Stephen Artz (1-3) picked up the win for Samford after working three and one-third innings and allowing two runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits. He walked two and struck out five. Bulldog starter Parker Gargis pitched six and two-thirds innings and gave up two runs on two hits, walked four and struck out six.
"In the eighth and ninth inning we made a run at them when we were down," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "We had a chance to win the game in the eighth and the ninth. All night long we were just so far out of synch. I thought their starter (Parker Gargis) did a great job. We were just out of synch tonight. It looked like we were way out of rhythm."
Samford struck first in the top of the third inning when Rice singled through the left side, scoring Bishop.
The Bulldogs got out to a 5-0 advantage in the top of the sixth inning on a grand slam home run to left field by Bishop.
UAB will host Purdue (1-5) in a three-game series over the weekend at Young Memorial Field.
"We have to get ready for them (Purdue)," said Giangrosso. "We have to play much better than we did tonight. Purdue played really well at Florida last weekend. Their numbers are really good and we'll have our hands full I'm sure."
Friday, the Blazers and Boilermakers square off at 6 p.m., Saturday's game begins at 2 p.m. and Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. All three games of the series 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.
