March 12, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Facing a 6-3 deficit with one out in the ninth inning, the Purdue baseball team would not quit as it rallied for four runs to defeat Alabama-Birmingham 7-6 at Young Memorial Field on Friday night.
Trailing 1-0, Purdue scored its first run of the game in the fourth. Third baseman Simon Klink (Sr., Auburn, Ind.) doubled and was moved to third on a single by designated hitter John Hunter (So., West Lafayette, Ind.). With two outs, second baseman Eric Osborn (Fr., Fishers, Ind.) singled to right field to score Klink.
After shortstop Mitch Koester (Sr., Effingham, Ill.) walked with one out in the fifth, center fielder Mike Coles (Jr., Hammond, Ind.) sent a two-run blast over the left field wall to give the Boilermakers the 3-1 lead. The home run was the second of the season for Coles, who has hit safely in each of Purdue's seven games.
UAB took a 4-3 lead in the sixth off a sacrifice fly from Eugene Rodriguez that scored one, and a double from Zac Ward that scored two. The Blazers added two more runs in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead on a single from Cole Helms that came with the bases loaded.
UAB looked to wrap up the game in the top of the ninth when they fell victim to Purdue's dramatic comeback. With one out, first baseman Eric Wolfe (So., Toronto, Ontario) was hit by a pitch. Matt Bush (Jr., Indianapolis, Ind.) came on to pinch hit and singled to right, moving Wolfe to second. Koester was also hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases.
The Blazers then brought Matt Fowles in from the bullpen, but he could not pitch his way out of the jam. Fowles faced Coles and catcher Ben Fritz (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) but hit both of them with a pitch to force in Wolfe and Bush, making the score 6-5. Fritz was the third consecutive hit batsman, and the fourth of the inning. UAB again went to its bullpen and Klink greeted the new Blazer pitcher by ripping a single to right field. Koester and Coles both crossed home plate on Klink's hit and gave Purdue the 7-6 lead.
UAB looked for a comeback of their own in the bottom of the ninth against Purdue reliever Trae Dauby (So., Dale, Ind.), but he put an end to the Blazers' threat. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Rodriguez put down a bunt which Dauby fielded in time to nail the runner at third. Dauby then got Helms to fly out and struck out Ward to end the game, earning his first career save.
Scott Byrnes (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) started the game on the mound for the Boilermakers and worked 5+ innings, allowing just three runs on five hits while striking out seven. Martin Havens (Jr., Highland, Ind.) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for Purdue, picking up his first career win.
Purdue improved to 2-5 on the season with the victory, while No. 31 UAB dropped to 10-4. The two teams will play the second game of their three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST.