The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
Blazers Drop Road Contest to Alabama, 8-1
3/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 25, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- Freshman Laura Callaway hit her first career home run as the UAB softball team fell 8-1 to No. 2 Alabama Tuesday evening at the Alabama Softball Complex.
The Blazers drop to 17-19 overall as they head back into Conference USA action this weekend where they are 4-5. The Crimson Tide improve to 28-3 on the year.
The game's turning point came in the first inning when the Blazers failed to score with the bases loaded and one out. Alabama then scored four runs with its at bat to take the early lead.
Leigh Walker reached on a fielder's choice which was followed by Andrea Rogers being hit by a pitch to start the Blazers' first inning. Both runners would advance and Kayla Harris would reach on a fielding error by Kelley Montalvo. Two strikeouts however would end the inning and keep the Blazers from doing any damage in the inning.
Alabama scored its first-inning runs on a bases loaded walk and a two-run single by Montalvo, which also scored Jordan Praytor from first when outfielder Mary Kendall Butler misplayed the hit.
UAB was limited to four hits by Alabama starter Kelsi Dunne (12-3). Dunne worked seven innings for the Tide and struck out 10 while walking none.
Jennifer Nelson (10-13) received the loss for the Blazers. She pitched three innings and gave up five runs and five hits. Kayla Harris worked the final three innings in relief.
Callaway's home run was a no doubt shot to deep left center in the fourth inning off Dunne. Over the last three games, she is hitting .667 with a slugging percentage of 1.111. During that period Callaway has scored four runs and collected six hits and has a three-game hitting streak.
An additional Blazer highlight came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Andrea Rogers threw out Brittany Rogers trying to steal second base. It was just the third time that Crimson Tide's Rogers was caught stealing in 38 attempts this year, with two of them coming by UAB's Rogers. The first time came when UAB hosted Alabama on March 6 in Birmingham.
Nelson and Harris each extended their hitting streaks. Nelson extended her streak to five games with a single in the fourth while Harris moved her streak to two games with a flair to right in the fifth.
Holly Krzan had the other Blazers' hit, when she singled thru the left side of the infield to begin the game.
Alabama scored one run in the second inning on a Praytor single and two runs in fourth on a sacrifice fly by Praytor and Charlotte Morgan's single. The Crimson Tide would another run in the sixh with a bases loaded walk.
The loss was the second of the year handed out by Alabama, one of the top teams in the country.
The Blazers' three-game winning streak was snapped with the loss and makes them 1-9 in road games this season.
UAB left seven runners on compared to nine left on base by Alabama.
The Blazers put their three-game league winning streak on the line when they return to Conference USA action this weekend. UAB will head Hattiesburg, Miss. to face Southern Miss in a three-game series beginning Saturday at 1 p.m.
