University of Louisville
at UAB *
Baseball Bested By Blazers
March 19, 2004 | Baseball
March 19, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, AL - The UAB Blazers scored the first 10 runs of the ball game en route to a 16-4 win over the University of Louisville in baseball action Friday.
Blazer shortstop Dan Stucky doubled with one out in the first, and later scored on a wild pitch to give UAB(13-5, 1-0) a 1-0 lead.
The Blazers exploded for five runs on six in the fourth for a 6-0 advantage. The big blow came off the bat of catcher Eugene Rodriguez, a two-run home run to right.
Rodriguez doubled home two more in the four-run fifth as U of L pitchers walked four and hit a batter in the frame.
Mark Jurich doubled to lead off the sixth for the Cards(9-8, 0-1) and eventually scored U of L's first run on a sac fly off the bat of third baseman Ryan McKinnon, making it 10-1.
UAB got the run back when they plated an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth.
A two-run single by Cole Helms and a three-run home run by Zac Ward in the eighth extended the UAB lead to 16-1.
McKinnon lead off the ninth with a mammoth home run to left, his third of the year, and Isaiah Howes followed with a single up the middle.
A double by first baseman Greg Taylor scored Howes and a throwing error plated Taylor on the play for the final totals.
Jon Harbridge (0-2) took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings, striking out three.
He was followed by Griffin Bailey who gave up four runs on two hits and three walks in an inning plus.
Jason Keck wrapped things up, surrendering six runs, five of which were earned on five hits and two walks in 3.1 frames. He struck out one.
Griffin Zarbough(2-0) picked up the win, baffling the Cards for seven innings, allowing just a single run on five hits and two walks, striking out six.
Haley was 3 for 4 with a walk, while catcher Ron Braun had a pair of hits for the Cardinals.
The double by Jurich was the 46th of his career, tying him for fourth on the all-time list with former slugger Matt Berger.
The same two teams will meet in game two of the series on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
