The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Chattanooga
UAB Takes One Out Of Two From Chattanooga
2/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 27, 2007
Box Score | Box Score (Game Two)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ---- UAB catcher Andrea Rogers belted her fifth homerun of the season, leading the Blazers to a 3-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs. Blazer third baseman Nicole Tumlin went deep in the second game, but the Lady Mocs squeaked out a 3-2 win in 10 innings.
In game one, Rogers opened the scoring for UAB in the first inning with a shot over the right field wall to give the Blazers an early 1-0 lead. It was Rogers' 14th homer of her career, just one shy of the school record.
The Blazers (10-7) added another run in the third to go up 2-0. Holly Krzan singled and advanced to second on Rogers' second hit of the game. After Krzan moved to third on a fielding error, she later scored on Nicole Tumlin's groundout to second base.
The Lady Mocs (7-7) threatened in the bottom of the fifth with runners at first and second and one out. Blazer second baseman Leigh Walker fielded a grounder and tagged the runner from first, but the runner plowed into Walker and the batter was also called out on interference to end the inning.
UAB capped off the scoring with another run in the sixth. Walker and Amanda Antonovich knocked back-to-back singles then Kayla Harris followed with a fielder's choice to load the bases. Jennifer Nelson took a walk to force a run home and put the Blazers on top 3-0.
Nelson (8-2) struck out five and gave up just three hits en route to her third shutout of the season.
The second game of the day was a pitcher's duel through the first half. Harris gave up just one hit through four innings, while Lady Mocs' pitcher Brooke Loudermilk held the Blazers to three hits through five innings.
Chattanooga finally broke the scoreless tie in the fifth. After a leadoff single, pinch hitter Tara Tembey slapped a single just out of the reach of Blazer shortstop Holly Krzan to put one run across.
Nicole Tumlin answered in the sixth with a solo shot to left-centerfield to tie the game at 1-1.
Harris struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. The umpires instituted the international tie-breaker heading into the eighth.
UAB put a run across in the top of the eighth on Krzan's sacrifice fly, but Chattanooga responded in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at two.
The Lady Mocs shut down the Blazers through the next two innings and plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth on an RBI single.
Despite taking the loss, Harris (1-3) had a stellar performance, setting a new school record with 18 strikeouts in a single game. Harris allowed just one earned run and four hits through nine and two-thirds innings.
UAB returns home on Friday to host the Magic City Classic at George Ward Park. The Blazers will open the tournament against Birmingham-Southern at 4:00 p.m. and follow with a game against Samford at 6:00 p.m.
