The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at LSU
Blazers Drop Series Opener At No. 2 LSU, 12-6
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 4, 2005
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The UAB baseball team dropped a 12-6 decision to second-ranked LSU on Friday evening at Alex Box Stadium. Playing their first road game of the season, and their first game against the Tigers since 1994, the Blazers outhit LSU 13-9, but committed a season-high seven errors to fall to 6-4 on the year. With the win, the Tigers improve to 10-2.
LSU starter Lane Mestepey lasted just 5.2 innings, but racked up a season-high eight strikeouts and picked up the victory to improve to 3-1 on the year. Adam Price suffered the loss for UAB, allowing seven runs, five of which were earned, in 5.1 innings of work.
Eight different UAB batters recorded a hit in the loss, including Seth Rollin and Billy Lichtner who each homered for the Blazers in the eighth inning.
The Blazers came out shaky in the bottom of the first, allowing LSU to take a 1-0 lead without recording a hit. Leadoff batter Bruce Sprowl reached first base when UAB catcher Donny Muth was called for catcher's interference. But Price responded by picking off Sprowl two pitches later. Ryan Patterson then reached base on a throwing error by UAB shortstop Ryan Metcalf, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored the game's first run on a sacrifice fly to left by Blake Gill.
A two-out rally by UAB in the top of the third tied the game at one. Freshman centerfielder Clint Toomey battled Mestepey to a full count then lined a single into left field, his second hit in as many at-bats. After a single by Dan Stucky moved Toomey to third, Zac Ward laced an RBI single to center, tying the score 1-1.
The Blazers' bats stayed hot in the top of the fourth. Cole Helms walked to lead off the inning, and Rollin followed with a single that dropped in front of LSU right fielder Nick Stavinoha. After a groundout by Phillip Bell advanced both runners into scoring position, Muth lined a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for a double, bringing Helms and Rollin home with the go-ahead runs.
Trailing 3-1, LSU's Patterson was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the fourth, and Gill followed with a base on balls. Clay Harris then notched the Tigers' first hit of the game, a solid single into center field which scored Patterson from second base. The next batters, Nick Stavinoha, drilled a three-run home run into the left field stands, his team-leading third round tripper of the season, giving LSU a 5-3 lead they would never lose.
Down by seven runs at 10-3 in the top of the eighth, two UAB home runs brought the Blazers within striking distance. With one out, Rollin homered to left, and after a two-out double by pinch hitter Ben McCullars, freshman Billy Lichtner smacked a two-run shot over the right field wall. Rolllin's home run was his team-leading third of the season while Lichtner's was the first of his career.
Game two of the series between the Blazers and LSU is scheduled for noon on Saturday at Alex Box Stadium. UAB's Jeff Brown will take the mound against Tiger lefthander Clay Dirks.
