The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Charlotte*
Blazers Defeat Charlotte, 16-1
4/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 24, 2004
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - UAB exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning en route to a 16-1 victory over Charlotte in Conference USA baseball action Saturday afternoon at Phillips Field.
Right fielder Cole Helms connected on his third home run of the year, a three-run blast to left field, to begin the Blazers' scoring in the sixth. Third baseman Zac Ward later got his third home run of the year, also a three-run shot to left field. Catcher Eugene Rodriguez later doubled to right center field, scoring shortstop Josh Miljavac to put UAB (19-19, 6-10 C-USA) up 10-1.
The Blazers added two runs in the top of the seventh inning when Miljavac singled to right field, scoring Helms and left fielder Jeremy Moran.
UAB pushed across four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Second baseman Seth Rollin got his second two-RBI double down the left field line, allowing first baseman Daniel Hill and designated hitter Nathan McCorkle to score the Blazers' first runs of the inning. Center fielder Sam Clark later singled through the left side, scoring Levi Patmon, who had pinch hit for Moran. Miljavac then collected his fifth RBI of the contest, a career high, after reaching first on a fielder's choice, allowing Rollin to score from third base.
Blazer starter Jeff Brown (4-3) picked up his second consecutive win for UAB after tossing his second consecutive complete game. Brown allowed one run on seven hits, walked four and struck out four.
"We couldn't be happier that we've won the series with one more to go," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Jeff (Brown) got us off to a good start and kept them at bay. I thought he pitched real well when he had to. We are swinging the bat pretty well. As long as we keep that up, we are right where we need to be."
Charlotte starter Matt Landphair (3-3) took the loss for the 49ers after working five innings and allowing three runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out two.
UAB took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Rollin doubled down the left field line, scoring McCorkle.
The Blazers got out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on Miljavac's two-out single up the middle that scored Moran and Ward.
Charlotte (16-20, 6-11 C-USA) posted a run in the bottom of the fifth when right fielder Adam Willard doubled to left center field, scoring center fielder Chris Lane.
After UAB retired Charlotte in order in the bottom of the eighth inning the game was called due to the "15 run" rule.
UAB equaled its highest run total of the year in the win and also enjoyed its largest margin of victory in a C-USA game since joining the league in the 1995-96 season. The Blazers have now posted back-to-back series wins as UAB took two games from Tulane last weekend in Birmingham.
The Blazers, who are now on a five-game overall winning streak and a four-game C-USA winning streak, will try for a three-game series sweep of Charlotte Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET).
