May 27, 2004

HOUSTON - UAB's Josh Miljavec scored the winning run on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to cap a three-run rally as the No. 7 seed Blazers came from behind for the 7-6 win over No. 6 seed Memphis on Thursday (May 27) afternoon in Game 7 of the 2004 Conference USA Baseball Tournament, presented by Sterling Bank, at Cougar Field. UAB improves to 30-28 overall on the year, while Memphis drops to 29-27.

With the win, UAB advances to the semi-finals of the league's annual tournament for the first time since 2000. It also marked the first time the Blazers have won their first two games of the C-USA Baseball Tournament.

Down two runs entering the ninth with the Tigers' Derek Hankins well on his way to his fourth complete game of the season, UAB started the rally when Jeremy Moran lead off with a single through the right side of the infield. After a one-out walk to Zac Ward, Miljavec singled through the right side to score Moran. Eugene Rodriguez then followed with another single to right to score J.R. Bond, who pinch ran fro Ward, to tie the game and advance Miljavec on third.

Bill Edwards, who had relieved Hankins with a 1-1 count on Rollin, threw a pitch in the dirt to the next batter, Daniel Hill, allowing Miljavec to score.

Memphis took a quick 2-0 lead in the first on three hits. After a single by Chad House and a throwing error placing him on second, Bill Moss singled to move House to third Brent Dlugach walked, and one out later, Ryan Martin punched a single through the right side of the infield to score House. Kyle Scott followed with a sacrifice fly to send Moss home.

UAB tied the game in its half of the first on an RBI-single by Cole Helms and a fielding error allowing Rodriguez to cross the plate.

Memphis first took the lead in the fifth when Dlugach doubled Moss home, then added their final two runs in the sixth on Michael Lewis' two-run home run.

Lewis finished the game with a career-high four hits, including two runs scored and two RBI.

Eric Roberts, who relieved starter Adam Price in the seventh, earned the win for UAB and improved to 5-3 on the year. He hurled three shutout innings allowing just three hits and three strikeouts.

Hankins left the game in the ninth with a no-decision, and allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits and nine strikeouts. Edwards suffered the loss and falls to 3-5 for the season.

With the loss, Memphis will next face Southern Miss on Friday, May 28, at 3:00 p.m. UAB advances and will then take on the winner of the Golden Eagles-Tigers match-up on Saturday, May 29, at 9:00 a.m.