The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Hosts Final C-USA Home Series
4/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2007
Southern Miss Game Notes
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala - The UAB softball team will host its final home Conference USA series this weekend, welcoming the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for a crucial matchup at George Ward Park. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and finish the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
UAB (27-23, 8-9 C-USA) is coming off a loss to SEC foe Mississippi State on Tuesday. In their last C-USA series a week ago, the Blazers dropped two out of three to UCF.
Southern Miss (16-29, 6-7 C-USA) split a doubleheader against in-state foe Ole Miss on Wednesday. In their last conference outing, the Golden Eagles split two games against UTEP on Sunday.
The last time the two teams met was in the 2006 C-USA tournament, as Southern Miss ended UAB's season with a 3-1 victory.
During the 2006 regular season, the Golden Eagles took two out of three in Hattiesburg, Miss. Overall, Southern Miss leads the series, 17-6.
The Blazers have been outscored 113-55 and are 3-6 against the Golden Eagles in Birmingham.
On Saturday, the UAB softball team will honor its Diamond Club members in addition to giving out bumper stickers to the first 50 fans at each game. Before Sunday's game, the Blazers will recognize this year's seniors. Also on Sunday, kids under 12 years old can run the bases after the game, sponsored by the Alabama Space and Rocket Center. An inflatable moonwalk will be available on both days at George Ward Park.
Scouting Southern Miss: After being picked to finish seventh in the 2007 C-USA preseason poll, the Golden Eagles come into Birmingham sixth in the standings with a 6-7 conference record. USM is a young squad, with no seniors on the team and two freshmen leading the way. Utility player Megan Hill is the biggest offensive threat for the Golden Eagles, leading the team in batting (.373), doubles (10), triples (5), homeruns (13) and RBI (39). Shortstop Brandi Alonzo also provides a solid bat in the lineup, with a .333 average and 20 RBI. The Golden Eagles have a pitching rotation featuring two juniors and a sophomore. Sophomore righty Samantha Davis holds a 5-8 record with a 2.68 ERA, while junior right-hander Shea Naramore is 9-20 with a 5.52 ERA. The lone southpaw in the rotation is junior Emily Howard, who is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA.
