University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
UAB*
Tiger Baseball Falls To UAB 7-4
Mar 29, 2003 | Baseball
March 29, 2003
Memphis, Tenn.-- - A five-run sixth inning for UAB lifted the Blazers to a 7-4 victory over Memphis in Conference-USA baseball action Saturday at Young Memorial Stadium. The Tigers (7-17, 1-7 C-USA) led 3-0 entering the sixth inning, but the Blazers (20-6, 5-2 C-USA) put together five hits and scored five runs in their half of the frame to take the lead for good. UAB-transfer and Tiger leftfielder Chad House had a pair of hits and scored two runs for Memphis.
Memphis pushed across a run in the first as leadoff hitter Chad House singled and scored the run. The Tigers played small ball to get House across the plate as Michael Lewis and Kevin House each laid down sacrifice bunts and Kurt Welch drove the run in with a sacrifice fly to right field. Lewis reached safely on his sacrifice as UAB second baseman Seth Rollin dropped the throw from pitcher Jon Burgett.
A two-out RBI triple by centerfielder Kevin House extended the Tigers' lead to 2-0 in the third. Lewis scored on the play after reaching base on a fielder's choice and stealing second. Josh Payne led off the inning with a single, but was erased on a fielder's choice.
U of M starter Stephen Gostkowski allowed base runners in each of the first four innings, but the true freshman was able to get of those innings unscathed. The Tigers' defense turned double plays in the third and fourth innings to help its pitcher. Gostkowski retired the Blazers in order in the fifth.
The Tigers built their lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Welch reached safely on a fielding error by UAB third baseman Steve Martin and advanced to second on a throwing error by Martin on the same play. A single by Dlugach moved Welch to third and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Sledd.
The Blazers figured Gostkowski out in the sixth as they grabbed the lead for good after plating five runs. UAB sent 11 batters to the plate and got five hits off Gostkowski (0-2). Pinch-hitter Drew Connell had the big hit in the inning as he laced a double down the leftfield line to give the Blazers' a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Michael Novarese got the final out of the inning after hitting the first batter he faced to load the bases.
Memphis got one of its runs back in the seventh to make it a one-run lead for UAB. Chad House scored his second run of the game on an RBI single to right field by Lewis. House stole second after reaching base on a fielder's choice and took third on an errant throw by UAB catcher Eugene Rodriguez.
The Blazers increased their lead to 7-4 after shortstop Josh Miljavic drove in two runs with a two-out single to rightfield with the bases loaded off Novarese in their half of the seventh. UAB starter Jon Burgett (4-0) allowed four runs, two of which we earned and seven hits in 6.2 innings before being relieved by senior Cody Cillo.
The Tigers had little success off of Cillo, as the right-handed reliever allowed only one hit and struckout six in 2.1 innings of work to pick up his third save of the season.
The teams will conclude the three-game series Sunday with first pitch set for 1p.m.
