March 30, 2003

Box Score

Memphis, Tenn. - UAB finished off a sweep of Memphis in Conference-USA baseball action rallying for a pair of runs in the eighth inning to take a 2-1 victory over the Tigers Sunday at Young Memorial Field. Redshirt freshman Drew Connell drove in the two runs for UAB (21-6, 6-2 C-USA) with his second pinch-hit, two-RBI double in as many days for the Blazers. Connell put the Blazers ahead for good in game two Saturday with a two-RBI double in the sixth inning.

Junior Brandon Rowan made his first start of the season after making 10 relief appearances for the Tigers (7-18, 1-8 C-USA), who dropped their eighth-consecutive league game. Rowan was sharp in his starting debut throwing 4.2 scoreless innings before being relieved by sophomore Bill Edwards. Rowan struckout four and allowed eight hits. Normally a starting pitcher for the Tigers, Edwards allowed two earned runs on two hits in 3.1 innings in his first relief appearance of the season.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when junior Josh Payne scored from third on anerror by UAB catcher Eugene Rodriguez. Payne was on third after a perfectly execute hit and run play that saw Chad House push a single through the right side of the diamond as the second baseman went to cover. House then stole second and advanced to third on the play as Payne scored after Rodriguez' throw sailed wide at second.

For the Blazers in their half of the third, the first three batters reached safely on a pair of singles and a walk, but no runs crossed the plate as Rowan struckout slugger Kyle Leon and induced first baseman Daniel Hill to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Rowan pitched out of another jam in the fourth when two more Blazers reached base on singles, but the lefthander was able to strike out Sam Jones to end the threat. Sophomore Bill Edwards relieved Rowan in the fifth after back-to-back two-out singles by Leon and Hill. Edwards struckout UAB designated hitter Matt Womble to keep the Tigers' ahead 1-0.

Memphis loaded the bases in the seventh on a pair of singles and a walk and just like Rowan did in the third inning to the Blazers, UAB starter Scott Gibson pitched out of the jam without giving up a run.

Connell's two-out double in the bottom of the eighth off Edwards (1-4) gave the Blazers a 2-1 lead. Seth Rollin hit a one-out single and Rodriguez followed with a walk as both runners scored on the sharply hit double that rolled all the way to the rightfield wall.

Senior Cody Cillo retired the Tigers in order in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season and second of the series. Gibson (5-0) went eight innings allowing seven hits and one unearned run while striking out two Tigers to pick up the victory for UAB.

The Tigers return to action Tuesday when they travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to face Arkanas State. First pitch with the Indians is set for 6:30 p.m.