The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama A&M
UAB 3-0 In Second Day Of Samford Invitational
3/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 10, 2001
PELHAM, Ala. - UAB (12-13, 0-0 Conference USA) knocked of Alabama A&M (5-12, 4-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) 17-1 in game one, defeated Samford (9-17, 0-0 Trans America Athletic Conference) 4-3 in game two and outlasted Austin Peay (3-12, 0-0 Ohio Valley Conference) 7-1 in game three to go 3-0 in the second day of play at the Samford University Invitational.
UAB took the lead against Alabama A&M in the bottom of the first inning when Cliffanie Engram doubled to left field, allowing Candice Hithe to score.
The Blazers broke the score open in the bottom of the second, scoring 13 runs on 11 hits. Carrie Parker singled in Kelly Lamb to start the scoring. With the bases loaded, Mandalyn Moskal walked Hithe, bringing in Jessica Smith. Nicole Stout then doubled in Emily Scarbrough and Carrie Parker. Hithe then scored on an error by catcher Jamie Carruthers. Engram followed with a two-run home run to center field. Smith, on her second at-bat in the inning, singled in Beth Mullins. Parker singled in Lamb on her second at-bat. Scarbrough then reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Smith to score and Parker also advanced home on an error by Carruthers. Amber Rouse, pinch hitting for Hithe, hit her first home run of the year, a two-run shot to left center field to put the Blazers up 14-0.
Smith had her first home run of the year when she went deep to center field in the bottom of the third inning and put the Blazers up 15-0.
Rouse added two more runs for UAB in the bottom of the fourth inning when she hit her second home run of the game, a two-run blast to center field to put UAB up 17-0.
Alabama A&M added one run in the top of the fifth when Tanisha Taylor singled to center field, scoring Amelia Toney. The game was then called due to softball's eight-run rule after five innings of play.
Mandie Wyatt (2-0) had the complete game victory for UAB, allowing only one run and striking out three. Moskal picked up the loss for Alabama A&M.
Samford got an early lead in the bottom of the first inning in game two on a solo home run by Mindy Shunnarah.
Samford added another run in the bottom of the second on another solo homer by Michelle Wright.
UAB answered in the top of the third when Kelli Thompson singled to left field and then advanced to second on an error by left fielder Abi Casillo, allowing Engram, Stout and Amanda Ellis to score.
UAB added another run in the top of the fourth when Ellis singled in Lamb.
Samford answered in the bottom of the sixth inning when Shunnarah scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Jennifer Graham.
Thompson (6-5) pitched five innings in relief of Kerri Foster, allowing only one run and recording two strikeouts. Foster pitched two innings, allowing two runs on two hits and recorded two strikeouts. Erin Lansburg (2-6) picked up the loss for Samford, pitching three and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on nine hits.
UAB took an early lead in game three against Austin Peay when Hithe scored on a sacrifice fly by Engram.
UAB added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Lamb doubled in Adrienne Guilbeau and then Ellis tripled to right field, scoring Lamb.
The Blazers broke it open in the top of the fifth. Lucy Bass started the scoring when she doubled in Engram and Jessica Brown. Kai Paul then singled in Bass. Parker brought one more run in when she doubled, allowing Lamb to score.
Austin Peay got one run in the bottom of the fifth when Amy Forrest singled in Misti Claude.
Thompson had the complete game victory for UAB, allowing only one run and striking out seven. Holly Ricketts got the loss for Austin Peay, pitching four and one-third innings, allowing six runs on six hits.
UAB will be seeded fourth going into the championship round Sunday. The Blazers take on third-seeded Ball State at noon. The winner moves on to face second-seeded Auburn at 2 p.m.
