The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Cincinnati*
Blazers Top Cincinnati, 14-3
5/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 20, 2004
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Shortstop Josh Miljavac went 3-for-5 with a two RBI, a home run, a double and three runs scored in helping lead UAB to a 14-3 victory over Cincinnati in Conference USA baseball action Thursday evening at UC Baseball Stadium on the Bearcat campus.
Jeff Brown (5-5) picked up the win for UAB (27-26, 12-15 Conference USA) after tossing his fourth complete game of the season. Brown allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out six.
"I was real pleased with the way our guys came out and played," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Jeff (Brown) pitched so efficiently. We didn't use any bullpen, so everyone will be fresh tomorrow."
Bearcat starter Aaron Moll (3-6) took the loss for Cincinnati (14-39, 5-23 C-USA), who played its first ever game in the brand-new UC Baseball Stadium, after working five and two-thirds innings and allowing nine runs, six of which were earned, on seven hits. He walked five and struck out five.
UAB has now won eight of its last 10 road games, including six of seven in C-USA play.
UAB took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a three-run homer to left center field by third baseman Zac Ward.
The Blazers got out to a 5-0 advantage in the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded, designated hitter Nathan McCorkle reached first on a fielder's choice, allowing Miljavac to score from third. Right fielder Cole Helms followed with a single to left field, scoring first baseman Daniel Hill.
Cincinnati answered with three runs in the bottom of the third. Left fielder Pat LeMasters singled to left center field, allowing shortstop Drew Saylor to score the Bearcats' first run of the inning. Right fielder Brian Beltz later singled to left center field, bringing in LeMasters and center fielder Erik Eitel.
UAB added two runs in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run homer to left field by second baseman Seth Rollin. The Blazers led 7-3.
The Blazers got out to a 9-3 advantage in the top of the sixth inning on a pair of solo home runs. Miljavac connected on his fifth homer of the season, a shot over the right field wall, to start the Blazer scoring. Hill later got his 13th of the season, sending a pitch over the left field wall.
UAB posted five runs in the top of the eighth inning. Miljavac collected his second RBI of the contest when he doubled to right field, allowing Ward to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. McCorkle later connected on the first grand slam of his Blazer career, sending the ball over the right center field wall. The Blazers led 14-3.
UAB now needs one win or a Louisville loss to clinch a berth in the C-USA Tournament, which will be held May 26-30 in Houston, Texas.
Louisville will play game two of its three-game series at the University of South Florida Friday.
Game two of the three-game series between UAB and Cincinnati is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. (ET). The series concludes Saturday at 1 p.m. (ET).
Both games will be broadcast live 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.
