University of Houston
UAB
Baseball Stunned by UAB in Series Opener on Friday
4/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 18, 2008
Houston-UAB Game Book (April 18, 2008) in PDF Format 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior outfielder Jake Stewart tied a school record with three home runs, but it would not be enough as the 19th-ranked University of Houston baseball team dropped a 10-9 decision Friday to Conference USA rival UAB in the opener of a three-game series at Young Memorial Field.
His third and final home run of the night - a three-run shot - pulled the Cougars to within 10-8 and highlighted a four-run ninth inning. The Cougar rally continued in the ninth as tying baserunner Ryan Lormand reached on a one-out walk, stole second and moved to third base following an errant throw on the steal attempt. But UAB reliever Billy Lichtner retired the last two batters he faced to end the threat and the game.
Stewart became just the third player in UH history to blast three home runs in a game. He joined Mark Grimes, who first set the mark against Trinity in 1985, and J.P. Woodward, who most recently accomplished the feat against Louisville in 1999.
Stewart finished the night 4-for-4 with three runs, a walk and career-high five RBIs.
The Santa Fe native was just part of a Cougar slugfest that accounted for six home runs, one shy of the team single-game record. Lormand, junior infielder Jimmy Cesario and freshman utility player Matt Murphy also launched home runs in the losing effort.
The Blazers, who trailed 4-0 after three-and-a-half innings scored at least two runs in each of their final four frames and then held on for dear life to take the win.
With the game tied at 4-4 entering the seventh inning, Stewart appeared to give the Cougars the momentum when he led off and blasted the first-pitch he saw over the wall in center field.
However, the lead would not last long.
After back-to-back singles by Austin Taylor and Jonathan Merritt and a walk to Nick Crawford loaded the bases, Phil Bell reached on a UH infield effort. Ryan Keedy then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Merritt for a 5-4 UAB lead. Following a groundout, Luke Stewart lifted a high fly ball that fell into center field after UH outfielder Zak Presley lost it in the lights, allowing Crawford and Bell to score and give the Blazers and 8-5 lead.
The Blazers added two more runs in the eighth inning on Cody McMurry's two-out, two-run single and would need all of those to halt the Cougar ninth-inning rally.
In the ninth, pinch-hitter Felix Fanaselle led off with a single through the left side and moved all the way to third on Blake Kelso's single up the middle. Stewart then smashed the first pitch he saw - his third straight home run on as many pitches - over the wall in right center.
Two batters later, Cesario launched a 1-0 offering deep into the night to pull the Cougars to within 10-9. Lormand continued the rally as he drew a walk, stole second base and took third after an errant throw sailed into center field. But Lichtner forced a flyout and groundout to end the rally.
Sophomore southpaw Wes Musick collected the loss and fell to 7-2 after giving up seven runs (five earned) off eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts in six innings.
UAB starter James Oliver picked up the win and improved to 3-2 after allowing five runs off eight hits and three walks with a strikeout in seven innings.
McMurry went 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs, while Luke Stewart batted 3-for-5 with a home run and team-high four RBIs. Taylor batted 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
With the loss, the Cougars fell to 24-13 overall and 7-3 in C-USA games. UAB improved to 16-21 overall and 2-8 in league games.
The series continues at 2 p.m., Saturday and wraps up at 1 p.m., Sunday. Fans can hear all Cougar Baseball games live at UHCougars.com by clicking the appropriate links. Jeremy Branham will call the play-by-play action while former letterwinner Pat Cauley provides color analysis.
Fans always can follow live stats by clicking on the Gametracker link.
The Cougars wasted little time in grabbing an early lead, putting a run across in the second inning. Lormand drew a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position following Murphy's sacrifice bunt, advanced to third following a wild pitch and scored on Bryan Tully's double into left field.
The score remained that way until the fourth inning when Lormand and Murphy led off with back-to-back home runs to hand the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Stewart smashed an 0-2 offering over the wall in left center to lead off and hand the Cougars a 4-0 lead.
The Blazers cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the frame, thanks to Taylor's RBI-single up the middle and a ground ball that later scored Taylor from third base.
UAB knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth when Stewart smashed a two-run homer to right field.
The tie did not last long as Stewart led off the seventh inning with a towering home run off the center-field wall for a 5-4 Cougar lead.
