The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Southern Illinois
UAB Knocks Off No. 18 Southern Illinois In Extra Innings
3/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2007
Box Score | Box Score (Game Two)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- In the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and the game tied 4-4, UAB catcher Andrea Rogers hit a deep fly to right field and rightfielder Allison Davis charged home from third, sliding her fingertips across the plate for a 5-4 win over the No. 18 Southern Illinois Salukis. The Blazers (16-11) also defeated the South Alabama Jaguars 5-1 earlier in the day at George Ward Park.
Although the Blazers have wins over teams receiving votes in the national polls this season, including Virginia Tech and South Florida, the victory over SIU marks the first against a Top 25 ranked opponent.
UAB's pitching in both games was solid. Kayla Harris (4-4) held South Alabama to a no-hitter through three innings and allowed just two hits and struck out seven through seven innings of work. Jennifer Nelson (11-4) carried UAB through all nine innings, striking out eight and giving up three earned runs. Nelson also had a good day at the plate, going a combined 5-for-6 in both games.
In game one, the Blazers struck first in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs. Davis led off the inning with a single and moved to second on Lindsay Stanley's sacrifice bunt. After Holly Krzan got hit by a pitch and Rogers walked to load the bases, Nicole Tumlin smacked a two-RBI single into leftfield to give UAB a 2-0 lead.
The Jaguars (13-9) scored their only run in the game in the fourth on a homerun to right-centerfield.
UAB got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Ashley Thomas, pinch running for Nelson, scored on Stanley's single to third base.
Holly Krzan added to the Blazers' lead in the fifth when she sent a 2-2 pitch over the leftfield wall to make it 4-1. Krzan's 17th career homerun broke a tie between her and Rogers for the school record.
UAB iced the game with another run in the sixth. Stanley knocked a grounder to the pitcher, but a bad throw allowed Leigh Walker to run home and seal the 5-1 win.
Game two of the day was a see-saw contest, featuring four lead changes over the course of nine innings.
Southern Illinois (18-6) opened the scoring in the second with a pair of runs on a two-RBI single.
The Blazers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. After Amanda Antonovich reached on an error and Nelson slapped her fourth consecutive single of the day, Walker cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple down the rightfield line.
The Salukis regained the lead in the top of the fourth on a couple of singles and a sacrifice bunt, making it 3-2. Stanley's spectacular throw to the plate on a single up the middle prevented further damage.
UAB battled back in bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 edge. Nelson singled again and Walker reached on an error by the shortstop. Davis' perfectly placed bunt stayed just inside the line, giving her a single to load the bases. Stanley delivered again, slapping a single into rightfield to tie the game at three. Krzan followed with a grounder to the third baseman, but the throw home was wide of the catcher and Walker crossed the plate for the go-ahead run.
SIU came back in the sixth, tying the game at four on a couple of fielder's choice ground balls. Again, Stanley came up firing on a single to centerfield and ended the inning with her perfect throw to cut down the runner at home plate.
The two teams played through the seventh without scoring and headed to extras, instituting the international tiebreaker.
The Salukis threatened to break the tie in the top of the ninth, putting runners at the corners with no outs, but Nelson worked out of the jam with two strikeouts and grounder back to the circle.
UAB entered the ninth with the top of the order up to bat. With Davis placed on second, Stanley laid down a bunt and beat out the throw to put runners at the corners for the Blazers. Krzan loaded the bases with a walk. With the count 1-2, Rogers sent a ball deep to right field and Davis ran home, just beating the throw to the plate to give UAB the 5-4 victory.
UAB is now 2-1 in extra-inning games this season, with both wins coming at home.
The Blazers continue mid-week play on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Troy. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.
