The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
MEMPHIS
Errors Prove Costly as Memphis Edges UAB, 7-6
4/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2007
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Two unearned Memphis runs in the eighth inning cost UAB game one of its three-game series against the Tigers, 7-6, at Young Memorial Field Friday night. Senior outfielder J.R. Bond was 3-for-4 in the game and senior third baseman Ryne Lovdahl was 2-for-5 with a home run, however three errors in the eighth inning allowed Memphis to take an early edge in the series. Game two of the series has been moved from 2 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday due to the threat of inclement weather.
Memphis improves to 20-14 (6-4 C-USA) with the win, while UAB drops to 16-19 (4-3 C-USA) with the loss.
Both starters on the mound pitched well over 100 pitches as Memphis right-hander Ben Grisham (2-1) came away with the victory after going 7.0 innings, striking out five and allowing just one walk. Matt Yokley (4) earned the save after he struck out four Blazers in the last two innings.
Though impressive, UAB sophomore righty Mitch Kloskowski (4-3) got the loss after his 7.0 innings of work in which he struck out four and allowed four earned runs.
Bond had a double, two singles and a walk to lead the Blazers, while Lovdahl hit his team-best fourth home run of the season. Senior catcher Danny Sawyer and freshman shortstop Jonathan Merritt were each 2-for-5 on the day with a run scored.
Junior outfielder Phil Bell was 1-for-5, recording his third multiple RBI game of the season with two runs driven in.
The Tigers were led by right fielder Josh Irvin who was 2-for-3 with three RBI on the night, while six other Memphis bats recorded one hit. Third baseman Kyle Norrid and left fielder Will Petersen each had one hit and two runs scored.
UAB went up 2-0 in the first after senior outfielder Levi Patmon singled through the left side to lead off the inning and later scored on a passed ball before Bond doubled to left center to score Lovdahl.
Memphis got one back in the second on a play that Irvin attempted to extend a stand-up double into a triple and got beat to the bag by junior second baseman Tyler Rollin's relay throw, however Memphis first baseman Adam Amar scored on the play to cut the Blazer edge to 2-1.
In the third, the Tigers took the lead, 3-2, when two runs came across to score on a RBI-double to left field by Irvin. UAB then had a chance to put some runs on the board in its half of the fourth, however failed to get a run home after loading the bases with one out.
In the sixth, Memphis designated hitter Joey Lieberman launched a home run over the left field wall to make it 4-2.
Still close at 4-2 in the eighth, things started to get interesting. First, Memphis seemed to close the door on the Blazers in the top half of the inning when Norrid reached first on an error by Merritt and then advanced from first to third on a throwing error by junior reliever James Oliver, who was attempting to pick-off Norrid at first. Norrid then scored on a wild pitch by Oliver to complete his free trip around the bases.
The Tigers scored two runs on no hits and three errors in the eighth inning to open up a 6-2 lead.
Down, but not out, UAB bounced back in the bottom half of the inning as Bond drew a walk to kick things off and then Sawyer and Merritt belted back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded and one out, senior designated hitter Steven Turner took four straight pitches to walk and score Bond.
Still in the eighth, Bell fought off several pitches before ultimately taking a 2-2 offering to left field for a two-run double to score Merritt and Sawyer to make it 6-5.
In the top of the ninth, Memphis struck again, taking a 7-5 lead on a fielder's choice to left field by second baseman Bill Moss.
Lovdahl led off the bottom of the ninth and got the Young Memorial Field crowd back into it as his solo jack over the left field wall made it 7-6.
Down to their last out with Merritt on first after singling through the left side, junior Billy Lichtner pinch hit of Rollin and was called out looking on a full count pitch to end the game.
The Blazers and the Tigers will play game two of the series on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
