The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Hosts Sixth Annual Magic City Classic
3/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2007
Magic City Classic Game Notes
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB softball team is set to host the sixth annual Magic City Classic Friday through Sunday at George Ward Park Field Six. The Ohio State Buckeyes join the three Birmingham-area schools, marking the first year that a team outside the Magic City will compete in the tournament.
The Blazers open the tournament against the Birmingham-Southern Panthers on Friday at 4:00 p.m. and follow with a matchup against the Samford Bulldogs at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, UAB will face Ohio State for the first time in the program's history at 4:00 p.m. before a rematch against BSC at 6:00 p.m. The Blazers round out the weekend on Sunday, playing the Buckeyes again at 12:00 p.m. and finishing the tournament against Samford at 2:00 p.m.
UAB leads the all-time series against BSC 8-2 and have outscored the Panthers, 41-15. Beginning in 2002, the Blazers won seven in a row over BSC, then dropped the next two to the Panthers. UAB won last year's meeting, 5-0.
The Blazers also lead the all-time series against the Bulldogs 14-4, outscoring them 61-43. UAB won the initial meeting with Samford in 2000, while Samford took the second meeting. The Blazers then reeled off five consecutive wins over the Bulldogs from 2000-2002. From 2003-2004, UAB went 4-3 against Samford. The Blazers have won the last four meetings, including last year's 5-3 victory.
The game versus Ohio State will mark the first time UAB has faced a team from the Big Ten. Conference USA is 3-4 against the Big Ten so far this season.
The first 50 fans at each UAB game will receive a free visor.
Gametracker is available for each game of the tournament by clicking here.
Scouting BSC: The Panthers are coming off their first-ever winning season with a 28-21 record. BSC returns four seniors to the diamond and has eight new faces on the squad. Sophomore Anne Lawrence has led the Panthers offensively this season, batting .393 with 10 RBI. In the circle, junior Bethney Reynoldson leads the way with a 1.94 ERA through six starts. The Panthers were picked to finish fifth in the 2007 Big South Conference preseason poll.
Scouting Samford: The Bulldogs return seven starters from last year's squad that finished the season with a 20-38 record. Pitcher Stephanie Royall was named to the OVC's All-Newcomer team in 2006 and leads the team so far this season with a 5-3 record, 57 strikeouts and 2.10 ERA through 56.2 innings pitched. Freshman infielder Amanda Barrs is leading Samford on offense, batting .344 with three doubles and four RBI. Senior shortstop LIz Pearse isn't far behind with a .342 batting average, four doubles and eight RBI. The Bulldogs were picked to finish seventh in the 2007 OVC preseason poll.
Scouting Ohio State: The Buckeyes are off to a 5-5 start against a tough schedule that has included six ranked opponents and two others that are receiving votes in the national poll. Of Ohio State's five losses, four have come against Top 10 teams. The Buckeyes are hitting .277 as a team, which ranks third in the Big Ten, and own a 4.65 staff earned run average. Ohio State returns eight starters from last season, including junior centerfielder Liz Caputo who currently leads the team with a .360 batting average. In the circle, senior Jamee Juarez leads the way with a 3.19 ERA through 26.1 innings pitched. The Buckeyes ended the 2006 season with a 39-23 record.
