The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston (C-USA Tournament)
Blazers Eliminated From C-USA Tournament By Houston, 7-5
5/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 26, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-- Houston scored six unanswered runs and came back for a 7-5 victory over UAB on Thursday morning at Pete Taylor Park in the second round of the Conference USA Tournament. With the loss, the Blazers fall to 31-27 and are ousted from the double-elimination tournament. Houston is now 27-28 and advances to play the loser of the East Carolina-Tulane matchup on Friday.
Heath Tapscott (3-3) suffered the loss for the Blazers while Shea Hancock (1-2) picked up the victory for the Cougars. Justin Vaclavik finished off UAB over the last two innings to earn his 11th save.
Houston jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Roberts grounded a one-out single over Zac Ward's head at third base, then came around to score two batters later on an RBI single up the middle by Dustin Kingsbury.
The Blazers tied the game in the top of the third when Phillip Bell drew a leadoff walk and scored when Ryan Metcalf doubled into the left-center field gap. Clint Toomey followed with an RBI single to left, scoring Metcalf and giving UAB its first lead of the game. After J.R. Bond doubled to left-center, Ward lined an RBI single to center which plated Toomey. Nathan McCorkle followed with an RBI double into the right-center field gap which scored Bond and gave the Blazers a 4-1 advantage. UAB would add one more run in the inning when Ward scored on a passed ball.
The Cougars inched closer when Bryan Pounds lined a bases-loaded single through the left side in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Brad Lincoln who led the inning off with a walk. With the bases still loaded, UAB starting pitcher Heath Tapscott hit Chris Joseph in the head with a pitch, bringing Brian Temko home from third. Houston leadoff batter Travis Tully then tied the game with a two-out single up the middle, scoring Bryan Tully and Pounds. The Cougars then took the lead on a throwing error by UAB's Metcalf at shortstop which allowed Joseph to score the go-ahead run.
Lincoln drew a leadoff walk again for Houston in the bottom of the seventh and Dustin Kingsbury followed with a single to center. After UAB reliever Eric Roberts struck out Temko, pinch hitter Matt Farrington doubled over Toomey's head in center field, scoring Lincoln and giving the Cougars a 7-5 advantage.
