Feb. 17, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Kentucky baseball team lost its first game of the season, falling 3-1 at UAB in the Birmingham Challenge Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 17 in front of 374 fans at Young Memorial Field. Junior designated hitter Gordon Tyler cracked his first home run of the season to provide the only offense for UK (2-1), while a three-run fourth inning proved enough for the Blazers (2-2).
Earning his first career save in UK’s 5-4 win over Birmingham-Southern on Saturday, Hahn got the starting nod against the Blazers and could only muster 3.1 innings of work. After Tyler sent a two-out home run over the wall in the top of the fourth, UAB answered in its half of the inning.
Loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter, pitching coach Greg Goff replaced Hahn with sophomore right-hander Mark Galvin to rescue the Wildcats in the bottom of the fourth inning. Galvin had problems finding his control in his first appearance of the year, walking his first two hitters faced and giving UAB a 2-0 lead. The Blazers crossed the plate one more time when left fielder Mitch Jones lined to first, scoring Justin Miller from third.
The Cats squandered a scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth, loading the bases on a Brent Stephens single and walks to Brad Prickrell and Robert Newton. UAB senior hurler Ross Dobbins got out of the jam by getting Spencer Graeter to fly out to center, striking out Tyler and setting down Caleb Brock on a called third strike.
Dobbins earned the win for UAB to go 1-0, while Hahn begins his sophomore campaign at 0-1. Junior Cody Cillo earned the save for UAB.
The Wildcats will next be in action on Friday, Feb. 22 when they face Texas A&M at 7 p.m. ET in the Continental Express Aggie Baseball Classic in College Station, Texas.
Kentucky 000 100 000 1 5 1UAB 000 300 00X 3 8 2
E- Rutherford, Womble, LeonDP- UK 1, UAB 1. LOB- UK 5, UAB 9HR- TylerSB- Rutherford, Hecklinski, GauldeCA- WombleWP- Dobbins, 1-0LP- Hahn, 0-1SV- Cillo, 1Time- 2:31Attendance- 374
