The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at Birmingham-Southern
Blazers Top Birmingham-Southern, 8-6
5/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Cole Helms came on in relief in the bottom of the ninth inning and struck out Birmingham-Southern in order to record his second save of the season and lift UAB to an 8-6 win over the Panthers in baseball action Tuesday evening at Scrushy-Striplin Field.
Helms entered the game with runners on first and second and nobody out after starting the game in right field. The win gave UAB (22-22, 8-12 Conference USA) a season sweep of the Panthers as the Blazers defeated Birmingham-Southern 3-2 in 13 innings Feb. 24 at Young Memorial Field.
Eric Roberts (3-2) picked up the win for UAB, who won its fourth straight road contest, after coming on in relief of Blazer starter Ryan Huffman in the bottom of the bottom of the sixth inning. Roberts worked two and two-third innings and allowed one run on three hits. He struck out one and did not issue a walk. Huffman pitched a season-high five and one-third innings and gave up five runs, four of which were earned, on nine hits. He walked one and struck out three.
John King (3-2) took the loss for Birmingham-Southern after coming on in relief of Panther starter Mac Godwin in the top of the fifth inning. King pitched two and one-third innings and allowed two runs on two hits, walked one and struck out one. Godwin worked four and two-thirds innings and gave up four runs on five hits, walked three and struck out one.
UAB began the eighth inning down 5-4. Helms led off the inning with a single to left field. Left fielder Jeremy Moran walked. Both base runners advanced a base on a wild pitch by Panther reliever David Horne. After striking out second baseman Seth Rollin, the Panthers intentionally walked third baseman Zac Ward. Center fielder Levi Patmon then singled through the left side, allowing Helms to score the Blazers' first run of the inning. Shortstop Josh Miljavac then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Moran to score the go-ahead run. Catcher Eugene Rodriguez followed with a single through the right side, scoring Ward. First baseman Daniel Hill then singled through the left side, scoring Patmon.
"Cole (Helms) coming in was big," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "Our two freshmen, Levi (Patmon) and Zac (Ward), had pretty good nights. It's always good when freshmen can help you. They gave us big hits. I'm proud of our freshmen and our seniors. Daniel (Hill), Eugene (Rodriguez) and Josh (Miljavac), they were big for us. I think Eugene and Daniel did a really good job of taking what Birmingham-Southern gave them. This was a big game. I thought Ryan (Huffman) pitched well. He made a few mistakes early, but I thought he pitched well."
BSC's lone run in the bottom of the ninth inning came when left fielder Jared Walker singled to right center field, scoring center Matt Bogue.
Birmingham-Southern (34-13, 16-2 Big South Conference) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. First baseman Connor Robertson doubled down the left field line, allowing Bogue to score the Panthers' first run of the inning. Catcher Ryan Griffith followed with a single up the middle, scoring Robertson.
UAB tied the score in the top of the third inning on a two-run homer to left field by Miljavac.
The Panthers pushed across a run in the bottom of the fourth inning when second baseman Pat Mizerany doubled down the left field line, scoring Griffith. BSC led 3-2.
UAB regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Ward led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Designated hitter Nathan McCorkle later singled through the left side, scoring Patmon. UAB led 4-3.
Birmingham-Southern got out to a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Griffith led off the inning with a solo home run to left center field. Shortstop Michael Wydner later grounded out to third base, allowing Mizerany to score from third.
UAB next travels to Fort Worth, Texas for a three-game Conference USA series against TCU (28-17, 14-7 C-USA). Friday and Saturday, the teams square off at 7 p.m. and Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
