The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Charlotte*
Blazers Top Charlotte, 7-5
4/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 23, 2004
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Daniel Hill went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in helping lead UAB to a 7-5 road victory over Charlotte in Conference USA baseball action Friday evening at Phillips Field. With the win, the Blazers extended their winning streak to four games.
UAB (18-19, 5-10 C-USA) struck first in the top of the third inning. Catcher Eugene Rodriguez singled through the right side, allowing center fielder Sam Clark to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Later in the inning, shortstop Josh Miljavac scored from third base on 49er starter Justin Brown's wild pitch. UAB led 2-0.
Charlotte (16-19, 6-10 C-USA) tied the score in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run home run to left field by designated hitter Randall Poplin.
UAB regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning after pushing across four runs. Miljavac reached first base on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt, allowing third baseman Zac Ward to score from third base on a close play at the plate. Later in the inning, Hill singled to center field, scoring Clark and Miljavac. Right fielder Cole Helms later singled through the left side, scoring Rodriguez. UAB led 6-2.
Charlotte cut the deficit to two runs when Poplin got his second two-run homer of the contest, this time to right center field.
The Blazers added a run in the top of the seventh inning when designated hitter Nathan McCorkle doubled to right center field, scoring Hill, who extended his hitting streak to seven games in the contest. UAB led 7-4.
Charlotte added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo home run to left field by third baseman Adam Floyd.
True freshman Grant Addison (1-1), who was making his first career C-USA start, picked up the first win of his UAB career. Addison worked five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits, walked five and struck out two. Eric Roberts pitched the final four innings for UAB and picked up his third save of the season. Roberts allowed one run on two hits, walked two and tied a UAB career high with six strikeouts.
"We got off to a very good start in this series with tonight's win," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now, so hopefully that will continue. Grant (Addison) struggled a little bit with his control. He just kept battling. We just asked him to give us a chance to win. Daniel (Hill) is really seeing the ball well right now. He is starting to get those hits when runners are on base. He helped break the game open for us tonight.
"We are very fortunate to have a guy like Eric (Roberts). It's taking everybody we've got to get it done, but we are proud of that. We are real proud of our guys right now."
Brown (2-3) took the loss after pitching seven innings and allowing seven runs, only four of which were earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
The teams will continue the three-game set Saturday at 2 p.m. (ET).
