March 28, 2003

Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. - UAB scored an unearned run in the 11th-inning to defeat Memphis 4-3 in game one of their Conference-USA series Friday at Young Memorial Stadium. The loss extended the Tigers' (7-16, 1-6 C-USA) losing streak to six games in conference action while UAB (19-6, 4-2 C-USA) has won two straight in league play.

Leadoff hitter Sam Clark led off the 11th with a single and moved to second after a successful steal attempt. The next UAB batter hit a chopper to shortstop Brent Dlugach whose throw was mishandled by Kyle Scott at first allowing Clark to score from second for the game-winning run. Dlugach and catcher Kurt Welch each had two of the Tigers' six hits.

UAB took a 1-0 lead in the first inning following a towering solo home run by Kyle Leon. The score would have been 2-0 if not for UM starter Jarrett Grube picking off Mitch Jones at first after he had reached on an infield single.

The Blazers added an unearned run in the second to extend their lead to 2-0. Grube walked Eugene Rodriguez to lead off the frame and the UAB catcher moved to third on a bloop single off the bat of DH Matt Womble. Rodriguez then scored on a passed ball that got away from Welch behind the plate for the Tigers.

Memphis took its first lead of the game with a three-run third inning. Leadoff hitter Chad House drove in the first run when Bill Moss scored on his single to left-center. Kevin House followed with a single. He was forced out at second as the next batter for the Tigers, Josh Payne, hit into a fielder's choice. Welch then drove in Chad House and Payne with a shard double down the leftfield line.

The Blazers quickly tied the score at three in their half of the third on a RBI bloop single by Drew Connell that scored Leon, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

Grube and UAB starter Lucas Trotter both settled down after allowing three runs a piece through the first three innings and held the opposing teams scoreless in the fourth through seventh innings. Grube had a season-highs in innings pitched with seven and strikeouts with 11. Trotter also had 11 strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Memphis had a scoring opportunity in the seventh inning after shortstop Brent Dlugach hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a groundout by Bill Moss, but Trotter picked up his 12th strikeout of the game when he fanned U of M leftfielder Jordan Hart to retire the side. The Blazers had a pair of base runners in the seventh, but Grube was able to retire the final two UAB batters via the strike out to end the threat.

The Tigers had another scoring opportunity in the eighth off UAB reliever Jeff Brown. Kevin House reached third after walking with one out. House advanced to second on a fielding error by UAB firstbaseman Daniel Hill and then moved to third on a wild pitch by Brown. However, Brown struckout Payne on a check-swing for out number two and got Welch to groundout to short for the final out of the inning.

U of M reliever Daniel de Armas (2-1) took the loss after holding the Blazers off the scoreboard after entering the game in the top of the eighth until the unearned run in the 11th. De Armas allowed four hits in three innings of work. UAB reliever Jeff Brown (3-1) gave up just one hit in four innings of work to pick up the victory for the Blazers. Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m.