The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
ALABAMA STATE
Blazers Down Alabama State 13-3
4/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 20, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB posted 13 runs on 16 hits to claim a 13-3 victory over Alabama State in baseball action Tuesday evening at Young Memorial Field.
Lyle Northington (1-0), who was making his first career start for the Blazers, picked up the win after working six innings and allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits. He walked two and struck out three. Grant Addison pitched the final inning and retired the Hornets in order.
Hornet starter Jamal Thorton (1-3) took the loss for Alabama State after pitching one and two-thirds innings and allowing nine runs on 10 hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Alabama State (15-28) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on first baseman Quinton Urguhart's sacrifice fly to center field that scored shortstop Brian Doub.
UAB (17-19) answered with three runs in the bottom of the first. Designated hitter Nathan McCorkle singled to center field, allowing shortstop Josh Miljavac to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Right fielder Cole Helms followed with a double down the left field line, scoring catcher Eugene Rodriguez and first baseman Daniel Hill. UAB led 3-1.
The Hornets posted two runs in the top of the second inning when second baseman Adrian Holloway doubled to left field, scoring left fielder Anthony Perkins and catcher James Jordon.
The Blazers exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second. Hill led off the scoring for the Blazers with a two-run homer to right center field. Helms later singled to right center field, scoring McCorkle. Left fielder Jeremy Moran followed with a single up the middle, bringing in Helms. Second baseman Seth Rollin then hit a two-run homer to right center field. UAB led 9-3.
UAB added a run in the bottom of third inning when Rodriguez grounded out, allowing center fielder Sam Clark to score from third base.
The Blazers went up 11-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning on Helms' solo home run to left field.
UAB got two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Drew Connell, who was pinch hitting for third baseman Zac Ward, doubled down the left field line, allowing Levi Patmon, who had pinch hit for Moran, to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Clark followed with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Rollin.
"We had to do some things early in the game to get the lead," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "We had to be very disciplined at the plate in order to put up some offensive numbers. I thought Lyle (Northington) pitched well. He got in a little trouble early, but he settled down and really threw well. We were very business like tonight. We took care of business. Our guys understand that we have to continue to play well and we can't take any nights off."
After Alabama State failed to score in the top of the seventh inning, the game was called due to the 10-run rule.
Helms finished the night 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and a career-high four RBI. Hill, who posted his fourth home run in three games, was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, and McCorkle went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
UAB next travels to Charlotte for a three-game C-USA series. Friday, the teams meet at 6 p.m. (ET), Saturday's game begins at 2 p.m. (ET) and Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (ET).
