The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Softball Hosts Auburn In 2004 Home Opener
2/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team will play at home for the first time of the 2004 campaign on Tuesday as the Blazers host the Auburn Tigers at 6 p.m., at George Ward Park Field No. 6.
"We're very excited to be getting back on the field to play again," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "We're not just excited because it's our home opener, but we're excited because we are ready to prove that we're a lot better than our 1-5 record. I'm ready to show people what kind of a team that we have, and I think that this year's team is one of the best that we've ever had."
UAB (1-5) has not played a game since opening its season at the 2004 Paradise Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Blazers were scheduled to compete in a doubleheader against the Troy State Lady Trojans on Saturday, but the matchup was postponed due to rain. The teams have rescheduled the contests for March 31, in Troy, Ala.
Auburn (11-2) heads into Tuesday's matchup in the midst of a six-game winning streak. Over the weekend, the Tigers defeated Evansville, 8-0, to earn the championship title of the 2004 Tiger Invitational. Auburn only allowed four runs during the five-game tournament and the Tigers outscored their opponents by a total of 33-4.
"I also know that our team will be ready to play, because it's Auburn," Townsend said. "It's always a good game when we play against them and we split our games last year. The game that we lost to them went to extra innings and it's a pretty big rivalry. A lot of our players are friends with players on their team and they grew up together."
UAB and Auburn met twice last season and each team picked up a victory in the series. In the first meeting, UAB shutout the Tigers, 4-0, in Auburn, Ala., before the Blazers fell in eight innings, 5-2, in the series finale at George Ward Park.
The UAB softball team will resume play in its 2004 non-conference schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 16, as the Blazers host the Auburn Tigers at 6 p.m. at George Ward Park Field No. 6.
