The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
at USF*
Blazers Take Down USF, 6-1
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 15, 2005
TAMPA, Fla.-- UAB starting pitcher Cole Helms struck out a career-high eight batters over seven shutout innings and the Blazers defeated USF, 6-1, on Friday night at Red McEwen Field. UAB got home runs from Seth Rollin and Levi Patmon and improve to 23-11 on the season, 8-5 in Conference USA. With the loss, the Bulls are now 20-19, 7-5 in league play.
The seven innings of work was also a career-best for Helms who improves to 2-0 while USF's Casey Hudspeth falls to 6-3 after allowing five runs in six innings. UAB's Nathan McCorkle extended his season-high hitting streak to ten games and Ryan Huffman pitched for the first time since April 6, retiring the Bulls over the final two innings.
UAB took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. McCorkle singled to lead off the inning and would later come around with the game's first run on an RBI single to right field by McCullars. The with two outs, Ryan Metcalf bounced a single through the left side of the infield which scored Patmon who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
The Blazers extended their lead in the top of the sixth. McCorkle doubled down the right field line leading off, then Helms drew a walk. Seth Rollin followed with his fifth home run of the season, a three-run blast over the 400 foot sign in center field to give UAB a 5-0 advantage.
Patmon's first career home run in the top of the eighth gave UAB a 6-0 lead.
The Blazers and Bulls return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. for game two of the series. UAB's Jeff Brown (5-2, 4.10 ERA) will take the mound against USF's Daniel Thomas (6-3, 3.40 ERA).
