The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
BALL STATE
Blazers Drop 7-5 Decison To Ball State
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Ball State broke a 5-5 tie with a two-run rally in the top of the ninth and defeated UAB, 7-5, in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Young Memorial Field. Jacob Legg suffered the loss for UAB while Kory Bucklen picked up the victory for Ball State. Erik Morrison got the Blazers out in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up his second save in as many games. The Blazers (4-2) and Cardinals (3-1) combined for 23 strikeouts in the game.
Nathan McCorkle was UAB's offensive star in the game, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Zac Ward also homered for the Blazers.
Ball State loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the first. After UAB starter Jeff Brown struck out Kyle Dygert looking, he issued a walk to C.J. Webb which scored Jason Bucholtz with the game's first run. But Brown then rebounded and struck out Eric Earnhart on three pitches as three Cardinal runners were stranded on base to end the inning.
The Blazers wasted no time taking the lead back in the bottom of the first. After a four-pitch walk to leadoff batter Clint Toomey, Ward followed two batters later with his first home run of the season which hit the top of the right-center field wall and bounced over, giving UAB a 2-1 lead.
After Ball State reclaimed a 3-2 lead in the top of the second, the Blazers scored twice in the bottom of the third. Dan Stucky reached on an error by Bucholtz at shortstop, and McCorkle hit his first home run of the season over the right-center field wall.
Two more Cardinal runs in the top of the fourth put UAB in a 5-4 hole. Chris Pestle and Matt Singleton led the inning off with a pair of singles and scored when Brad Miller lined a double over Toomey's head in center field.
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, McCorkle started a Blazer rally with a one-out single to right field. Cole Helms then stepped up and lined a triple off the right-center field which scored McCorkle with the tying run.
Ball State leadoff batter Mike Sullivan led off the top of the ninth with an infield single and moved to second when Bucholtz faked a bunt, then grounded a single through the left side of the infield. Another ground ball single through the left side of the infield by Miller loaded the bases with no outs. After a pitching change which brought Eric Roberts into the game, Marc Franz hit a high pop fly to second base and was called out due to the infield fly rule. The ball dropped, but Seth Rolllin flipped to Brett Hall at second base and forced out Miller who tried to advance. On the play though, Sullivan scampered home from third with the go-ahead run. A single past McCorkle at first base by Dygert gave the Cardinals a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
The Blazers and Cardinals will wrap up their series with game two of Saturday's doubleheader beginning at approximately 5 p.m.
