The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
No. 12 Alabama Rallies In Ninth To Defeat UAB, 5-4
5/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 2005
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-- 12th-ranked Alabama came from behind to record a 5-4 victory over UAB on Wednesday evening at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. UAB falls to 28-17 while the Crimson Tide improves to 33-14. The Crimson Tide scored once in the eighth inning to tie the game then plated the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Alabama's game-winning rally in the bottom of the ninth started when Zac Welch drew a leadoff walk from UAB reliever Adam Price. Cale Iorg then singled through the right side of the infield to move pinch runner Michael McAllister into scoring position at second base. Price then walked pinch hitter Matt Bentley to load the bases before striking out Emeel Salem for the second out of the inning. But Allen Rice came through with the game-winning single to center which scored McAllister.
UAB starting pitcher Grant Addison pitched five innings and allowed just one run on five hits while striking out five but did not figure in the decision.
UAB jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Zac Ward hit his fourth home run of the season over the right field wall.
After a Chris Kirkland RBI single tied the game in the bottom of the second, the Blazers scored twice in the top of the third inning. Ryan Metcalf walked and would come around to score on a single through the right side by Ward three batters later. With one out, Nathan McCorkle then lined a shot off Alabama reliever Trey Shields which Evan Bush picked up at third base and threw to first to retire McCorkle. On the play, Ward was thrown out trying to reach third base, but not before Clint Toomey plated UAB's second run of the inning. Toomey was on base after drawing his second walk in three innings.
The Blazers extended their lead with a run in the top of the fifth. Ben McCullars struck out leading off the inning but reached base when strike three got away from the Crimson Tide catcher. A Metcalf sacrifice bunt moved McCullars to second, then with two outs, Dan Stucky ripped a line drive single up the middle and McCullars slid in safely ahead of the tag at the plate.
The Crimson Tide put a run on the board in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Evan Bush and Morrow Thomley reached on back-to-back singles and both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch by UAB reliever Eric Roberts. A walk to Zac Welch then loaded the bases. After striking out pinch hitter Matt Grooms on a 3-2 slilder, Roberts struck out Cale Iorg, but the third strike got away from McCullars behind the plate, allowing Bush to score and cut the Blazer lead to 4-3.
After Roberts struck out the first two Crimson Tide batters in the bottom of the eighth, Gabe Scott doubled to right-center and Bush then lined a single to right which scored Scott with the tying run.
The Blazers return to action Friday for game one of a three-game series at Conference USA rival Southern Miss. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm on Friday in Hattiesburg.
