The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
DEPAUL*
UAB Softball Team Earns Doubleheader Split With DePaul
3/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 25, 2005
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team earned a doubleheader split with the DePaul Blue Demons on Friday at George Ward Park, dropping game one by a score of 1-0 in nine innings and then taking the second by a count of 2-0 as the Blazers continued Conference USA play.
UAB (15-20, 2-3 C-USA) benefited from a shutout by starting pitcher Jennifer Nelson in game two, as the freshman left-hander tossed a complete game and allowed just three hits while striking out seven. Nelson (6-4) has now thrown five complete game this season and two shutouts to win for the fourth-straight time. The Blue Demons (12-11, 4-1 C-USA) had won their first four conference games after sweeping Houston in a three-game set earlier this week.
The two teams combined for only three runs and 14 hits on Friday on a day where offense was hard to come by as both pitching staffs were solid. UAB senior right-hander Erica Mascarenas was the tough-luck loser in game one as she went nine innings and allowed only one run on five hits. She walked three and struck out eight as she lost for only the second time this season, falling to 4-2.
DePaul's Tracie Adix picked up the win as she went nine innings herself and allowed no runs on four hits while walking a pair and striking out six. Adix limited the Blazers to four singles in her nine innings of work to run her record to 8-3.
DePaul and UAB were scoreless for eight innings until the Blue Demons' Sandy Vojik blooped a run-scoring single in front of left fielder Chelsea McCall to bring home the game's lone run. The story was much the same in game two, as the scoreboard remained blank until McCall ripped an RBI single up the middle to score pinch runner Allison Davis from third in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Sara Christophel beat out a single to shortstop to score the second run, giving her a team-best 13 RBI this season.
"We only left six on base in the first game but most of those were in scoring position so I wish we could have come through with some hits there, but we stepped up in the second game and came through with two outs," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "Chelsea (McCall) had a big-two out hit and of course Sara (Christophel) to get those two runs in."
"It was a huge victory because anytime you can keep DePaul to a low-scoring game you have a chance with one swing of the bat and that is what we did," said Townsnend.
The series concludes on Saturday with a single game set for noon. Saturday is "Adidas Day" and Adidas lanyards will be given out to the first 150 fans and special UAB M&Ms will also be distributed.
