By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bearcats left fielder Pat LeMasters makes the out. He drove in UC's first run in the third inning. The Cincinnati Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN

Batting practice is usually mundane stuff for baseball players, little more than a routine that must be followed before the game.

But there was nothing mundane about it for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats Thursday night as they christened their new, $11-million, 3,085-seat baseball stadium.

Ninety minutes before game time, the humid night air was thick with anticipation over the start of a new era for a program that produced Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Miller Huggins but hasn't played in the NCAA Tournament since 1974.

"You can sense a little extra pep in their step," UC baseball coach Brian Cleary said. "We have a better crowd here for BP than we had for all of our games at Midland."

A crowd estimated at 2,200, the largest to see a UC home baseball game, turned out to watch the Bearcats take on Alabama-Birmingham in the first game played in the stadium, which has yet to be named. The two-year wait for the new facility was worth it, even if the result, a 14-3 loss to UAB, wasn't what the Bearcats had in mind.

UC president Nancy Zimpher tossed the ceremonial first pitch to junior Jim Olds, then senior right-hander Aaron Moll took the mound and threw the first pitch that counted - a fastball that was low for a ball - to catcher Steve Pickerell.

Moll retired UAB's Josh Miljavac on a fly ball to left, then struck out the next two hitters for a perfect first inning.

"That was the first time in my career that I was really nervous out there," Moll said. "At the same time, it was the most fun I've ever had on a baseball field."

UC freshman outfielder Brian Beltz delivered the stadium's first hit, a line drive single to right-center field with one out in the bottom of the first.

Then the beating began.

UAB's Zac Ward clubbed the first home run in the new park, a 3-run shot over the 365-foot mark in left-center field with two out during a 3-run Blazer second inning. It was the first of five homers for UAB, including a grand slam in the eighth.

Drew Saylor scored the first run for UC when he walked in the third inning, went to third on an errant pickoff throw and scored on Pat LeMasters' single.

But this was a night that ultimately reflected where the UC program has been the last few years and how far it has to go to produce a team worthy of its new home.

"It was a great night, obviously," Cleary said, "except for the result."

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com