March 2, 2003
Birmingham, Ala. –
Alabama-Birmingham’s Josh Miljavac came in from third base in the 10th inning when UK pitcher Jeff Archer uncorked a wild pitch that hit the front of the plate and bounced over the backstop, handing the Bat Cats a loss in extra innings for the second consecutive day. Kentucky (4-5, 0-0 SEC) was plagued by errors all afternoon as the Blazers (13-0, 0-0 CUSA) won their 13th consecutive game to start the season.
Kentucky starter Seth Stanley gave the Cats an outstanding effort, throwing seven plus innings, allowing two unearned runs on just five hits and striking out three on the afternoon. Stanley was perfect through three innings, but the Blazers touched him for a run in the fourth when Steve Martin reached on a bunt single and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Daniel Hill. Jeff Archer came on in the eighth inning in relief of Stanley, with the lead off batter Martin standing on second base. Archer got Sam Clark on a groundout to short and struck Kyle Leon out. Catcher Caleb Brock nailed Martin trying to steal third on the play for a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play.
The Bat Cats forged ahead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring twice after two were out. Caleb Brock reached base on an error, Joe Naill laid down a bunt single and Casey Gilvin centered to center. Brad Pickrell then delivered a clutch two-strike bloop hit to center to score Brock and Naill and give Kentucky a 2-1 advantage.
UAB came back to tie the game in its half of the seventh on a run-scoring single from Eugene Rodriguez to bring home Matt Womble, who led the inning off with a double.
Stanley found himself in a jam in the sixth inning when Mitch Jones reached base on a Naill error to start the inning and Martin singled. After a sacrifice bunt by Clark, Stanley intentionally walked Leon to load the bases. Hill then hit a ground ball to the hole at short, but Naill redeemed himself by ranging to his right to backhand the ball and start a 6-4-3 double play to end the Blazer threat.
Kentucky returns to action on Wed., March 5th, with its home opener against East Tennessee State. That game is slated for a 3 p.m. start at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
– UK –
