The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
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UTEP
Blazers Drop Conference Doubleheader to UTEP
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2008
EL PASO, Texas ----- The UAB softball lost both ends of its Conference USA season opener, 3-0 and 8-0, against UTEP Saturday.
The Blazers (13-13) were held to four hits in the first game and were held hitless in the second game that was ended with a Miners' (16-6) walk-off homer.
"We came out flat today," head coach Marla Townsend said. "We struggled adjusting at the plate and never put anything together in either of the ballgames today."
Holly Krzan singled with two outs in the fourth to become the Blazers' first base runner of the game. Andrea Rogers lined the next pitch just inside the third base bag. Krzan trying to score from first was thrown out at home on the play retiring the Blazers in the inning.
UAB also had scoring opportunities in the sixth and seventh innings, but both fell short.
Rogers recorded her second base hit of the game on a line-drive single to left. Rogers finished 2-for-3 on the day and collected her seventh multi-hit game of the season and two shy of her mark from last year. Leigh Walker and Krzan went 1-for-3 in the loss.
The Miners broke the scoreboard in the second with an RBI single up the middle off the bat of nine-hole hitter Jennifer Stalter.
UTEP scored two runs in the third to extended its lead to 3-0. Ashley Perez singled with two outs and scored on a double by Camilla Carrera to right center. Carrera moved to third on a stolen base and scored on Andi Zolton single.
UTEP's leadoff hitter swung thru strike three on a wild pitch. Andrea Rogers threw down to first where she was initally called out. However the home-plate umpire over ruled her and she was ruled safe.
Nelson (7-9) took the loss in the starting role. She went seven innings for the 13th time this season, striking out six, including three in the last two innings. The lefty now has 129 this season and 710 for her career.
"I thought Jennifer pitched a really good game today," Townsend said. "She was around the zone the entire day and had some good stuff."
UTEP scored two runs in first inning with a fielder's choice and single. Krzan may have saved a run by tagging Stacie Townsend moving to second on the run-scoring fielder's choice. Shea Lodes singled to right center in the next at bat.
Kayla Harris tried to start a rally in the Blazers' next half inning, but was called out on a close play at first. It was the closest the Blazers would get to a hit all game.
"We just need to come out tomorrow and get after it," Townsend said.
UTEP scored a run in the second inning extending its lead 3-0. Most of the Miners' damage came in the fourth inning when they stringed three base hits, including a three-run double before the Blazers could record an out.
Jennifer Stalter hit a walk-off homer just inside the left-field foul pole to end the game in the bottom of the fifth, and give UTEP the series win.
Harris (6-4) lost for the first time in three outings.
The loss in game one broke a four-game winning streak that the Blazers had coming into Saturday's doubleheader. UAB holds a 5-3 lead in the all-time series after the two losses.
UAB and UTEP square off in the final game of the series Sunday at Noon MST.
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