The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at TCU*
TCU Tops UAB, 5-4
5/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 7, 2004
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU posted a four-run first inning and added a run in the second en route to a 5-4 victory over UAB in Conference USA baseball action Friday evening at Lupton Stadium.
First baseman Chris Neuman singled to right center field, allowing second baseman Ramon Moses to score the Horned Frogs' first run in the bottom of the first inning. Designated hitter Bo Cogbill then hit a three-run homer to right field.
The Horned Frogs final run came in the bottom of the second inning when third baseman Shelby Ford doubled to left field, scoring Moses.
The Blazers then mounted a comeback.
UAB (22-23, 8-13 C-USA) got on the board in the top of the fourth inning on second baseman Seth Rollin's sacrifice fly to left field that scored right fielder Cole Helms.
The Blazers cut the deficit to one in the top of the fifth inning on a three-run homer run to right center field by first baseman Daniel Hill.
UAB threatened in the top of the eighth inning. Helms led off with a single up the middle. Right fielder Jeremy Moran then singled through the right side, advancing Helms to third base. Rollin then reached on a fielder's choice as Helms was gunned down at the plate when Ford fired a strike to catcher Kyle Dahlberg for the putout.
The Blazers once again threatened in the top of the ninth inning. After Levi Patmon struck out to begin the inning, shortstop Josh Miljavac and catcher Eugene Rodriguez both singled. Hill then walked to load the bases. Horned Frog reliever Robbie Findlay was then able to get designated hitter Nathan McCorkle to pop up to first base and struck out Helms to pick up his seventh save of the season.
Horned Frog starter Eugene Espineli (6-3) picked up the win for TCU (29-17, 15-7 C-USA), who won its fourth straight C-USA home game, after working five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out five. Findlay worked the final inning for the Horned Frogs.
Blazer starter Jeff Brown (4-4) took the loss for UAB after pitching seven and two-third innings and giving up five runs on seven hits and walking five batters.
"Jeff (Brown) settled down and just pitched outstanding," said UAB head coach Larry Giangrosso. "He gave us a chance to win. We just didn't execute at times. We had a lot of opportunities to win the game. I was proud of the way we fought back. We are playing hard, but we just have to execute better. Tomorrow is huge. We will have to come back with resolve and a great intensity to play. We have to come away from here with some wins."
UAB left 10 runners on base to TCU's six.
The loss snapped a four-game road winning streak for the Blazers.
The teams continue the three-game series Saturday at 7 p.m.
