The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Georgia Southern
Blazers Defeat Samford, Fall to Georgia Southern
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 1, 2008
HOOVER, Ala. ----- The UAB softball team split its games at Saturday at the Magic City Classic, scoring two runs in the final inning to defeat Samford, before falling to Georgia Southern.
The Blazers (12-9) erased a one-run deficit to defeat the Bulldogs, 4-3, in the first game. Jennifer Nelson drove in the go-ahead run with two outs helping to improve to 17-4 against Samford.
"We really kept our composure in that game and never gave up," head coach Marla Townsend said. "Even going into our final at-bat I thought we had a chance at getting the victory."
Kayla Harris battled her way on with a single to start the inning and Laura Callaway moved Harris to second and reached as first was left uncovered.
Amanda Allen laid down a perfect bunt that the Bulldogs managed to field. The throw attempting to cut down Harris, the tying run, was mishandled and Townsend quickly sent Harris to home when the ball rolled into short left field.
Nelson, hitting for Caley Walden, slapped a soft single over the third basemen's head allowing Callaway to score making it 4-3 Blazers.
Holly Krzan tallied her second home run of the season in the first inning giving the Blazers a 2-0 lead.
Samford erased that with a three-run homer by Aaren Fischer in the third. The score would stay the same until the Blazers' rally in the seventh.
Nelson worked the seventh for just the third save of her career. Harris (6-3) won her second game of the tournament, tossing six innings and striking out four. Harris gave up eight hits, which with the exception of the home run, were not hit hard.
Leigh Walker made a high-light reel catch for the final out of the fifth inning. Had she not made the play two runners would have scored and Samford would have been up by three.
UAB dropped its second game 2-0 to Georgia Southern. The Eagles scored their runs in the top of the fifth on a Michelle Beasley two-run shot to deep center.
The Blazers' best chances to do damage came only after Georgia Southern took the lead.
UAB sent five batters to the plate in the sixth and seventh innings. Both times UAB had two runners in scoring position with two outs in the innings. The Blazers put the ball in play both instances but right at defenders to end the respective innings.
Nelson fell to 6-6 on the season. She struck out nine batters and allowed two hits. The left-hander passed the 100-strikeout mark for the fourth time in her career.
The Blazers play their final game of the Magic City Classic against Columbia at 1:15 p.m. Sunday at Spain Park High School.
