The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama A&M
Softball Sweeps Doubleheader From Alabama A&M
4/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2002
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - UAB (25-12, 5-4 Conference USA) swept a doubleheader from Alabama A&M (14-14), winning game one 10-1 and game two 9-1 in softball action at Bulldog Field.
UAB got on the board first in game one in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Beth Mullins' sacrifice fly to right field allowed shortstop Candice Hithe to score. The Blazers led 1-0.
UAB added another run in the top of the third inning. Hithe grounded out to second base, allowing right fielder Kristin Stanfill to score from third base and put UAB up 2-0.
Alabama A&M answered in the bottom of the third inning. With the bases loaded, second baseman Shawna Pena reached on an error by Hithe, allowing pitcher Mandy Moskal to score.
UAB took a 3-1 lead on a sacrifice fly to right field by catcher Kris Lara that allowed third baseman Aimee Vaughn to score.
Hithe tripled to center field for her second RBI of the game in the top of the fifth inning, as left fielder Sara Christophel scored. Mullins then got her second RBI of the game, as she grounded out to the shortstop, allowing Hithe to score. UAB led 5-1.
Amanda Ellis, who was pinch running for first baseman Kai Paul, added another run for UAB in the top of the sixth inning, as she scored on an error by third baseman Kimiko Crawley.
UAB got four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Christophel scored the first run of the inning on a wild pitch. Pitcher Kelli Thompson singled to left center field, allowing designed player Cliffanie Engram to score. Later in the inning, Lara singled to center field for her third RBI of the game, as Vaughn and center fielder Emily Scarbrough scored.
Thompson (7-2) threw her seventh complete game of the season and picked up the victory for UAB. She pitched seven innings, allowed seven hits, one run, which was unearned, two walks and tied a career high with 11 strikeouts.
Moskal took the loss for Alabama A&M. She pitched two and one-thirds innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
UAB jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two. Vaughn singled in Hithe and left fielder Engram. Christophel then scored on a throwing error by Pena. Lara then singled in pitcher Kerri Foster.
Alabama A&M answered in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Foster hit designated player Addie Myers, allowing Moskal to score.
UAB picked up a run in the top of the fourth inning, as Hithe scored her fourth run of the day on a throwing error by first baseman Porsha Potter.
Lara got her sixth RBI of the afternoon, as she singled through the left side, allowing Vaughn and Ellis, who was pinch running for Paul, to score. With Lara on second and Foster on third, Scarbrough grounded out to second base, allowing Foster to score and Lara to advance to second. Hithe then singled in Lara for her third RBI of the day.
Foster retired three straight batters in order in the bottom of the fifth inning to give UAB the victory. The game was called due to the NCAA Softball Division I "eight-run rule," which states that a team that leads by eight or more runs after five innings of play shall be declared the victor.
Foster (10-4) threw her ninth complete game of the season and picked up the victory. She pitched five innings, allowed one run on one hit, walked two and struck out eight.
Moskal (7-7) took the loss for the Bulldogs. She pitched five innings and allowed nine runs on 11 hits.
UAB returns home to George Ward Park Field No. 6 Saturday to face Conference USA rival Charlotte in a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.
