The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
FLORIDA A&M
Blazers Cruise Past Florida A&M, 8-3
3/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 2, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB baseball team wrapped up a two-game sweep of Florida A&M with an 8-3 victory over the Rattlers on Wednesday afternoon at Young Memorial Field. Seth Rollin and Nathan McCorkle homered in the game for the Blazers who improve to 6-3 on the season. Rollin finished 3-for-4 while Clint Toomey went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. Six different UAB batters contributed at least two hits in the victory.
Lyle Northington earned the victory in his first appearance of the season, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Blazers. Justin Telotte picked up his first career save as he shut down the Rattlers over the final 2.2 innings.
The Rattlers jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first and added another run in the top of the third. Corey McFadden led off with a single and David James drew a one-out walk. Reggie Murray then lined a double into the right-center field gap which scored McFadden and extended Florida A&M's lead.
After a one-out walk to Blazer shortstop Ryan Metcalf in the bottom of the third, centerfielder Toomey doubled down the left field line, scoring Metcalf and making it a one-run game. Dan Stucky followed with an RBI single back through the middle to score Toomey and tie the game.
With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, UAB first baseman McCorkle hit the first pitch he saw from Florida A&M starting pitcher Michael Tavernier over the left field wall to give his team a one-run lead. Two batters later, Rollin launched a home run to left-center field, extending UAB's advantage. The home runs were McCorkle and Rollin's second of the season, tying them for the team lead with Cole Helms. After Phillip Bell singled and stole second base, Metcalf lined a two-out RBI single up the middle which chased Tavernier from the game.
The Blazers would score two more times in the bottom of the eighth. An RBI single by Toomey followed by a sacrifice fly from Stucky ended the day's scoring.
The Blazers return to action when they travel to Baton Rouge, La. for a weekend series against third-ranked LSU. First pitch on Friday between UAB and the Tigers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.
