The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
CHARLOTTE*
Blazers Drop Series Opener To Charlotte, 9-7
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 29, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- UAB pounded out 13 hits but left nine runners on base as Charlotte took game one of the series against the Blazers by a score of 9-7 on Friday evening at Young Memorial Field. UAB is now 26-16, 10-9 in Conference USA while the 49ers improve to 25-17, 8-11 in league play.
Charlotte's Derek McDaid improves to 5-2 with the victory while UAB's Cole Helms suffered his first defeat of the season, falling to 3-1. Erik Walker earned his league-leading 10th save for the 49ers, recording the final five outs of the game.
Seven different Blazer batters recorded at least one hit, with Helms, Clint Toomey, Nathan McCorkle and Ryan Metcalf each contributing two.
Charlotte's Adam Willard, Garrett Hanselman and Spencer Steedley combined to go 8-for-14 with two home runs and eight RBI.
Leading 1-0 in the top of the third, the 49ers added to their lead. O'Brien Taylor drew a one-out walk and scored when Willard doubled into the left-center field gap.
The Blazers got a run back in the bottom of the third when Metcalf singled and scored from third when Levi Patmon grounded into a double play.
A two-run home run by Steedley in the top of the fifth extended Charlotte's lead to 5-1.
With Metcalf on base after a walk, Toomey continued his hot hitting, ripping a double to the right-center field wall and bringing Metcalf home with UAB's second run. After a Patmon groundout moved Toomey to third, a balk by Charlotte pitcher Derek McDaid allowed Toomey to score and bring the Blazers within two runs at 5-3.
Three consecutive singles by Cory Lane, Taylor and Willard to begin the top of the seventh extended the 49er lead to 6-4. Hanselman then followed with a three-run home run down the right-field line, giving Charlotte a five-run cushion.
UAB mounted a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning. Helms drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a single through the left side by Seth Rollin and then scored when Zac Ward doubled down the left field line. A single through the right side of the infield by Dan Stucky then brought home Rollin with the inning's second run. The next batter was Metcalf who chopped a grounder to second which scored Ward to make the score 9-7.
Game two between the Blazers and 49ers is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Young Memorial Field.
