Murray State
Alabama-Birmingham
Defense plays well, comeback falls short as 'Breds fall 6-5 at UAB in 12 innings
2/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds' mound corps did a great job today at Alabama-Birmingham, striking out 16 and walking only seven, and the MSU defense made no errors. Despite a slow start, the 'Breds' bats mounted a comeback, but fell short, falling 6-5 to the Blazers in 12 innings.
Sophomore left-hander Jake Ociesa started for Murray State (0-3) and threw five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking five.
UAB (4-0) countered with one of its top pitchers, Jeff Brown, who allowed only a first-inning single through the first seven innings.
The Blazers got on the scoreboard in the second inning when Cole Helms led off with a walk, moved to third on a single, then stole home to give UAB a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, UAB added three more runs on a three-run homer by Helms to pad its lead to 4-0.
The 'Breds' bats came alive in the eighth inning, when pinch-hitter Seth Hudson popped an infield single to lead off the inning, then catcher Dustin Hennigar hit a single to left, moving Hudson to second. James Akin came on to pinch-hit and walked to load the bases, and UAB pulled Brown from the mound for reliever Eric Roberts.
Third baseman Clint Griggs belted a one-out single through the left side to score Hudson and Hennigar, and Murray State trimmed UAB's lead to 4-2. In the bottom half of the inning, the Blazers added a run on a solo shot by Sam Clark to go ahead 5-2.
In the ninth, MSU continued its comeback, as shortstop Alex Stewart lifted a one-out solo home run to cut the deficit to 5-3. Hennigar slapped a two-out double to left, then scored on a single by Akin to pull the 'Breds to within one. Left fielder Austin Swain singled Akin to third, and Akin scored the game-tying run on a single by Griggs to knot the game at 5-5.
In the bottom half of the ninth, MSU pitcher Chandler Shepherd allowed only a hit batsman to reach base to send the game into extra innings.
Both teams retired the side in the 10th inning and in the top of the 11th. In the bottom of the 11th, UAB's Dan Stucky hit a single and stole second, and Daniel Hill walked, but both runners were left on base.
In the top of the 12th, Griggs led off by getting hit by a pitch. Second baseman Derrick Newton reached on a fielder's choice, as Griggs was thrown out at second. Center fielder Tyler Pittman got an infield single to move Newton to second, then Stewart drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Kyle Riley came on to pinch-hit for Bo Baxter, but struck out to end the inning.
In the UAB 12th, Eugene Rodriguez hit a one-out single, then moved to second on a groundout. Clark then popped a double down the right-field line to score Rodriguez and end the game at 6-5.
"Aside from the outcome, we played a great game," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We played well, we pitched well and played good defense. We didn't hit much early. (UAB's) No. 1 pitcher pitched and did a good job.
"Our kids really battled; they did a great job. In the 12th inning, UAB won it. We didn't lose it. It was a real good college game; both teams played well.
"I think we will find that UAB is a real solid team," McDonald said. "I feel good about the improvement we had over these three games."
Murray State was led by Griggs, who went 2-for-5 with three runs batted in, and Hennigar, who went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Stewart had a home run for MSU.
UAB was paced by Clark, who went 2-for-6 with a home run, a double, a run scored and two RBIs; Josh Miljavac, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a run; and Matt Womble, who went 2-for-5 with a double. Helms had a home run, scored twice and had three RBIs for UAB.
Pittman (0-1) took the loss for Murray State, allowing one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Ociesa started for the 'Breds, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking five in five innings. Bart Peach came on in the sixth, allowing one run on three hits, striking out three and walking one in three innings. Chandler Shepherd threw in the ninth, allowing no runs on no hits and striking out one in one inning, while Jon Ross Shelton pitched the 10th and 11th innings, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out four and walking one in two innings.
For UAB, Chris Thorup (1-0) got the win, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out four and walking one in two innings. Brown started and allowing two runs on three hits, striking out five and walking one in seven-plus innings. Eric Roberts came on in the eighth, allowing one hit and striking out one in one inning, while Matt Fowles pitched in the ninth inning, allowing three runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning. Helms pitched the rest of the ninth and the 10th inning, allowing one hit, striking out two and walking one in 1-1/3 innings.
Murray State visits Mississippi on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
