The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against Nicholls State
2/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 28, 2006
UAB-Nicholls State Game 1 in PDF Format
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UAB-Nicholls State Game 2 in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team swept Nicholls State Tuesday evening in a doubleheader at George Ward Park. The Blazers dominated game one, 7-1, but need a two-run home run by freshman Andrea Rogers to pull out the victory in game two, 3-2. UAB improved to 6-5 on the year and 2-1 at home with the wins.
"We were able to pick up were we left off over the weekend," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "We were glad to be home and played with a lot of confidence. Even when we were down, we knew all it took was one swing of the bat and we were right back in the game. This team never quits and it paid off tonight against a good Nicholls State team."
The Blazers controlled the momentum of game one right from the start. Junior Lindsay Stanley led of the game with a bunt single, and then proceeded to steal second. Senior Chelsea McCall followed with a sacrifice slap to the shortstop that allowed Stanley to advance to third. Sophomore Holly Krzan and Rogers had back-to-back walks to load the bases. Junior Nicole Whitlock came up with a timely double to left field to plate Stanley and Krzan. Rogers later came in to score on a ground out by sophomore Leigh Walker. In the inning, UAB scored three runs on two hits.
UAB continued to put runs on the board in the fifth inning. McCall led off the inning with a double to left center field. Krzan and Rogers both walked again for the second time in the game. Walker picked up two RBI on a single to left scoring McCall and Krzan. Sophomore Amanda Antonovich followed Walker with an RBI single to right field that scored Rogers. The final run of the inning came on a ground out by freshman Jacy Leon.
The Blazers entered the sixth inning with a 7-0 advantage but the Colonels managed to score one run on a single by Leah Peterson.
Sophomore Jennifer Nelson improved to 2-0 on the year after pitching six innings allowing a run on three hits. Nelson was in control the entire game striking out eight and only walking one. Junior Brittany Hodge sealed the victory after pitching the final frame.
Walker led the way at the plate going 1-for-3 with a run and three RBI. Whitlock also had a big night going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Offensively, UAB out-hit the Colonels, 7-3 and had three extra base hits.
In game two of the doubleheader, UAB wasted little time taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning. Stanley led off with a slap single to left field and Krzan followed with an RBI single up the middle. With great speed, Stanley managed to score on Krzan single.
NSU was determined not to let game two split away. They tied the game in the top of the second on a single by Kathryn Harrell to plate Meghan Mulcahy.
With two outs in the third inning, Brandi Hahn belted a solo home run to left center field to break the tie and give the Colonels a 2-1 lead. The lead remained in tact until the fifth inning.
Stanley led off with another bunt single but we forced out on a fielder's choice by McCall. With two outs and McCall still at first, Rogers blasted a shot over the center field fence to score two runs and give the Blazers a 3-2 advantage. The home run was her second on the season and second in three games.
It came down to UAB pitching. Antonovich came on in relief of starter Brittany Hodge in the fifth inning and was unstoppable. She picked up the win after throwing three scoreless innings not allowing a hit and striking out five. With the win, Antonovich improved to 2-1 this season.
Stanley went 2-for-4 in game two with a run scored. Rogers remained hot at the plate going 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run. The Blazers had three walks in the game and had six hits.
UAB will compete in the Magic City Classic this weekend at Birmingham-Southern College. The Blazers will battle cross-town rivals BSC and Samford Saturday and Sunday. Complete coverage of UAB softball can be found at www.uabsports.com.
