The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisville*
UAB Softball Splits with Louisville
4/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2003
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ----- The UAB softball team (18-19, 3-8 C-USA) split with the Louisville Cardinals, losing the first game, 2-0 and winning the second in nine innings, 6-3, here today.
"I felt that as a team we had some quality at bats and we were very aggressive at the plate," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend.
"I was also happy with our defensive play in both of the games today."
In game one, the Cardinals put the first runs of the game on the scoreboard in the sixth inning when Lacy Wood singled through the right side and scored when Sara Bausher blasted a two-run shot over the right center field wall, giving Louisville the 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals (15-14, 7-3 C-USA) held off the Blazers for the remaining two innings to hold onto the 2-0 victory.
UAB had four hits in the 2-0 loss against the Cardinals. Kerri Foster took the loss for the Blazers after pitching a complete game and striking out eight.
In the second game of the day, Louisville jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Bausher singled through the left side and scored when Keola Calderon singled, giving Louisville the 1-0 lead.
The Blazers battled back in the third inning when Kristin Stanfill singled and advanced to second on the throw. Stanfill advanced to third when Sara Christophel singled and then scored on a wild pitch thrown by Cardinal pitcher, Jessica Rak, tying the game at 1-1.
UAB scored again in the fourth inning when Kris Lara reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base when Kelli Thompson reached on an error. Lara then scored when Amanda Ellis singled to left center field, giving the Blazers the 2-1 lead.
Louisville battled back in the bottom of the fourth inning when Calderon doubled to center field and advanced to third when Lisa McMillan laid down a sacrifice bunt. Calderon tagged-up when Aja Sherman flied out to left field, tying the game for the second time at 2-2.
The Blazers kept the momentum rolling in the fifth inning when Candice Hithe reached on a single through the right side. Hithe advanced to second when Christophel laid down a sacrifice bunt. Beth Mullins smashed a single up the middle and brought Hithe across the plate, giving UAB the 3-2 lead.
The Cardinals added another run in the sixth inning when Lisa McMillen doubled and scored when Lyndsey Jordan pinch hit for Michelle Vasquez and singled to shallow left center field to tie the game for the third time at 3-3.
The Blazers and the Cards remained tied at 3-3 for the remainder of game, sending the head-to-head battle into extra innings.
In the ninth inning the Blazers had runners at first and second after Hithe and Christophel both drew walks. Both Hithe and Christophel advanced a base when Engram flied out to left field. Mullins hit a RBI single up the middle to bring Hithe across the plate, giving UAB the 4-3 lead in the ninth inning. Christophel and Mullins scored when Lara singled down the third base line, giving UAB the 6-3 lead.
UAB held off the Cardinals in their final at bat of the game, securing the 6-3 victory in nine innings.
The Blazers and Cardinals will be back in action Wednesday as the teams finish their three-game series, starting at 2 p.m.
