The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Memphis
Blazers Sweep Doubleheader, Series With Tigers
3/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 22, 2008
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team earned a Conference USA series sweep over Memphis, as the Blazers won both games of Saturday's doubleheader, 9-1 and 4-3 at George Ward Park.
The Blazers' sweep improves their record to 17-18 overall and more importantly 4-5 in league play. The Tigers fell to 16-14 overall and 0-5 in the conference with the sweep.
The sweep returns the favor to Memphis, who swept the series from the Blazers last season, keeping them from reaching the conference tournament and a possible berth to the NCAA regionals.
"This series meant so much to us for so many reasons," head coach Marla Townsend said. "This gets us right back into the battle for conference and puts everything that we battled thru lately behind us."
Laura Callaway was just one of several Blazers who stepped up this weekend. Callaway collected five hits, scored three times and drove in two runs over the two games. Holly Krzan, Leigh Walker, Andrea Rogers and Kayla Harris each had a multi hit game Saturday.
As a team UAB banged out 19 hits in Saturday's doubleheader, including 12 in game one which set a season-high.
Eight of the 12 hits in game one came in the Blazers' eight-run third. Walker singled and doubled in the inning and Krzan doubled to begin the inning.
Krzan's double was the ninth of the season for the senior, and moved her into a tie with DePaul's Sarah Martz for fifth all-time in Conference USA.
The eight-run inning for UAB was the largest this season and the first time since Feb. 11, 2007 when UAB scored 18 runs against Georgia State.
The Blazers needed just five innings for the 9-1 victory in the first game.
"We took take of what we needed to this weekend," head coach Marla Townsend said. "Our girls played extremely tough this weekend and responded every time they needed to."
Callaway finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Krzan and Walker each collected two hits. Krzan also scored twice and walked once.
Krzan drove in Callaway with a double down the right field line for the game's final run.
Harris (7-6) allowed three hits in five innings of work to earn the win. She benefited from the Blazers' defense that turned two double plays behind her. Harris struck out four and walked one.
The Blazers' big inning started with a Krzan double and ended on Walker's double, her second of the series. Rogers, Cameron Skates and Callaway each drove in runs in the inning.
However, most of the damage was done by Memphis who committed two errors in the inning, none more costly than the routine groundball that shortstop Heather Mott misplayed. The error allowed all three runners aboard to score on the play.
Krzan's walk in the first inning was the fifth consecutive base on balls for the senior, who became just the second played in four seasons to accomplish the feat.
The series finale was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams responded after every run scoring inning.
UAB jumped on top in the second inning on a Nelson ground out to second that scored Callaway who reached on a double.
Memphis actually scored the game-tying run on an inning double play. Heather Moss and Kimmi Hayden reached on a single and fielder's choice respectively. Both runners were moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt.
Kailey Kassner's ground ball was fielded by Krzan who smartly went after Hayden who started for third. Hayden was tagged in the run down by Krzan, who then threw to Callaway, racing Kassner to second, for the second out of the play. Moss scored on the ground ball.
Callaway responded for the Blazers and delivered with her second hit of the game scoring Harris and putting the Blazers back on top 2-1.
The Blazers added two runs in the fifth to make it a 4-1 game. Nelson singled to center and Kayla Orr walked with the bases loaded.
Memphis scored two runs in the sixth, and had a runner gunned down at home, which would have tied the score. UAB won despite committing three errors, two which helped the Tigers climb back into the game.
Nelson (10-12) slowed the Tigers' bats to earn her second victory of the series. She struck out five and walked one in five innings.
Her strikeout of Leigh Rowan to end the third inning was the 750th of her career.
The Blazers travel to Tuscaloosa Tuesday for a rematch with No. 2 Alabama beginning at 6:30 p.m.
