The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Welcomes Troy For Thursday Doubleheader
4/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 16, 2008
Gametracker: Game one Game two
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team hosts in-state rival Troy for its final non-conference games of the 2008 season Thursday at George Ward Park.
The doubleheader is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start with the second game to begin at approximately 6 p.m. Live stats are available thru UABsports.com.
UAB returns home with a 23-27 overall record, after a winning one game over the weekend against Marshall. The Blazers have five wins in their last seven tries, including two midweek victories over Western Kentucky last week.
Troy, winners of its last three contests, enter the doubleheader with at 27-18 overall. The Trojans recently swept North Texas in a Sun Belt Conference three-game series this past weekend.
Thursday's games mark the 13th and 14th times that the Blazers and Trojans will do battle. Troy holds a 7-5 lead in the all-time series, despite the Blazers having won three of the last four games. The clubs split two games last season in Troy.
The Blazers' offense is led by utility player Holly Krzan who has set four career records this season. Hitting .287 for the season, Krzan leads the club with 33 runs, a .476 slugging percentage and 21 RBI.
Last week Krzan picked up another UAB record when she started the 227th game of her career for the Blazers. Earlier this season she set new totals for runs, doubles and total bases. More records could come for the senior later this, which include career hits, RBI, and games played.
Catcher Andrea Rogers continue to produce at the plate raising her average to .309 after going 6-for-17 last week. Her 18 RBI ranks third on the club and is tied for second with nine doubles and 24 runs.
Second baseman Leigh Walker's effort over the past two weeks has driven her batting average to .271. She leads the team with five home runs, a career-high for the senior, to go along with 16 RBI.
Not counting the March 25th contest against No. 2 Alabama, the Blazers pitching staff has excelled during recent non-conference play. In their last seven non-conference contests, Jennifer Nelson and Kayla Harris have amassed a 1.38 ERA 45 2-3 innings.
Nelson on the year is 13-18 with a 2.88 ERA. She recently became the first Blazer pitcher to record three seasons of 200 or more strikeouts. With 783 Ks for her career, including 202 this season, she is now 77 strikeouts shy from second all-time among Conference USA pitchers.
Harris is having a career season having already set a career-high for wins (10). She has held three opponents to fewer than three hits in her last six starts. Harris has fanned 87 this year and has a 2.94 ERA.
UAB will face one of the best young pitchers in the nation Thursday. Ashlyn Williams has been remarkable in the circle during her freshman campaign for the Trojans. The lefty is the Trojans top pitcher, having worked 228 1-3 innings in 41 games during her freshman campaign. Williams is 22-11 on the season and recorded three saves. She has 1.56 ERA, 216 strikeouts and 54 walks on the season.
The offensive catalyst this season for Troy has been Johnson and Davis. Johnson is hitting .343 on the season and has 11 homers and 33 runs driven in. Her slugging percentage of .657 and on-base percentage of .400 lead the club. Johnson also leads the club with 19 stolen bases on the year.
Davis is an equal offensive threat for the Trojans, having hit nine long balls with 29 RBI. Her 27 runs rank second on the team, behind Johnson's 31, as well as her slugging percentage (.617) and on-base percentage (.399).
Adding to the Trojans' attack is Kala Moore with 23 runs and 20 stolen bases, Jessica Lyle and Hillary Hughes, both with 20-plus RBI and Kaitlin Kenney with 19 runs.
