The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Saint Louis*
UAB Softball Team Splits Doubleheader With Saint Louis
4/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2005
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The UAB softball team benefited from a season-high 11 runs in game two of a Conference USA doubleheader to gain a split with the Saint Louis Billikens on Friday at the Billiken Sports Center highlighted by an 11-1 victory in five innings in the nightcap.
The Blazers (16-25, 3-8 C-USA) fell by a score of 2-0 in Friday's first game but exploded for a season-high in both runs and hits in game two. UAB scored at least one run in every inning, including three runs in the first, third and fourth innings alone. The Blazers finished the game with a season-high 13 hits.
UAB also collected 13 hits in a 7-4 win over Georgia State on March 18 in the first game of a doubleheader which the Blazers swept from the Panthers in Atlanta, Ga. Lindsay Stanley broke out of a recent slump with four hits on Friday, including three in the second game. Sara Christophel, Dusti Roberts, and Leigh Walker all had two hits apiece in game two.
Lorena Floccari (7-8) picked up the victory in game one as she held the Blazers to just three hits over seven innings of work while walking one and striking out three. Erica Mascarenas (4-4) took the loss for UAB as the right-hander allowed two runs, one earned, and three hits in three innings. She walked one and struck out two.
The Billikens took a 2-0 lead after three innings, scoring both runs with two outs. Katie Hoffarth led off the frame with a ringing double to left-center field and then went to third after Adrienne May beat out a bunt single. A wild pitch then moved May to second and Hoffarth raced home when UAB catcher Nicole Whitlock's errant pick-off throw bounced under Dusti Roberts' glove.
Kara Sell was retired on a groundout and then AshLeigh Williams singled through the left side to make it 2-0. Mascarenas induced Logan Justice to ground out to third to end the inning. Freshman Amanda Antonovich came on in relief of Mascarenas and worked the final three innings, allowing only two hits while walking none and striking out three.
Game two began much more to UAB's liking as the Blazers scored three times against Floccari in the top of the first inning. Stanley reached on a bunt single to lead off the first and moved to second after a sacrifice by Chelsea McCall. Sara Christophel singled home Stanley and went to second when center fielder Adrienne May's throw was off line. Kris Lara blooped a single just over the pitcher's mound to put runners at first and second, and then both runners moved up a base after a sacrifice by Roberts.
Carrie Christophel drew a walk to load the bases, and Sara Chistophel scored when shortstop Ashlee Heady misplayed a routine ball, making it 2-0. Antonovich followed with an RBI single to right for a 3-0 lead.
Stanley led off the second with a single to center and promptly stole second base. McCall lined a triple to the gap in left-center field to drive in Stanley for the Blazers' fourth run, but McCall slid past the base and was tagged out. Sara Christophel and Lara were then retired in order to end the inning.
Leigh Walker launched a three-run home run over the left-field wall with two away in the top of the third to extend the Blazers' lead to 7-0. Sell singled under the glove of Walker at second in the bottom half of the third to make it 7-1.
Carrie Christophel ripped an RBI single to left with the bases loaded to score Sara Christophel. After Whitlock and Antonovich each struck out for the first and second outs of the inning, Walker came through again, looping a single to shallow center field to score a pair, giving her a career-high five RBI in the game. Walker entered Friday's play with six RBI all season. The five RBI tied a school record for RBI in a single game, held by three others, and accomplished most recently by Sara Christophel against Chattanooga on March 20, 2004.
UAB starting pitcher Jennifer Nelson improved to 7-6 with a win in game two. She went 4 2/3 innings and allowed only three hits and one run. Nelson walked three and struck out seven. Antonovich again relieved and got the final out of the game.
The Blazers scored in double digits for the first time this season and first time since beating Saint Louis, 10-6 last season at home.
The series finale will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Agate to follow:
Game One
UAB (15-25, 2-8 C-USA) at Saint Louis (11-15, 4-6 C-USA), 2-0
UAB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 1
SLU 0 0 2 0 0 0 x - 2 5 0
WP: SLU, Lorena Floccari 7-8; LP: UAB, Erica Mascarenas, 4-4
Save: None
Game Two
UAB (16-25, 3-8 C-USA) at Saint Louis (11-16, 4-7 C-USA), 11-1
UAB 3 1 3 3 1 - 11 13 0
SLU 0 0 1 0 0 - 1 3 3
WP: UAB, Jennifer Nelson, 7-6; LP: SLU, Lorena Floccari, 7-9
Save: None
