The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Troy
Big Innings Help Troy Defeat UAB In Doubleheader
4/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Blazers fall to 23-29 on the season and now have an eight-day break before their next game. The Trojans move to 29-18 after the two game sweep.
Kayla Orr hit her first-career home run, a grand slam that helped the Blazers pull back into the first game. The rally would eventually fall short after the Trojans built a 7-0 lead.
It was a reverse story in the second game as the Blazers held the lead for five inning before a three-run fifth inning helped Troy defeat UAB in a two-game series for the first time in three years.
The loss in game one put an end to a four-game winning streak at home for the Blazers, who wait more than week before they host No. 9 Houston to conclude their home schedule.
Orr's grand slam was UAB's first since May 3, 2007 when Andrea Rogers hit a walk-off grand slam against Chattanooga.
Ashlyn Williams received the win in both games for Troy. She pitched 6 1-3 innings and struck out seven. Williams (24-11) pitched in relief to earn her second win of the night.
Troy was trailing 2-1 when she came into the game to start the fourth inning. She worked four innings, struck out seven and held the Blazers to two hits.
Williams benefited from a three-run fifth that put Troy ahead 4-2. Hillary Hughes came through with a single that plated two runners and Tanya McLean with a shallow pop fly that fell over Orr.
UAB would pull within one-run when Krzan doubled home Caley Walden in the sixth. Troy pushed back out to a two-run lead with a solo shot off the bat of McLean.
Jennifer Nelson took the loss, pitching seven innings and giving up 12 hits. Nelson (13-19) stuck out two and walked two, while allowing four earned runs.
Nelson put the Blazers in front 2-1 in the first inning on a bases loaded walk.
Two consecutive three-run innings were the difference maker in game one for Troy.
The Trojans strung three hits together that scored the first two runs of the game. Xx Moore, who had the third hit, stole second, third and scored on a throwing error.
It became a 6-0 game when Katie Taber homered to left center. The ball was nearly tracked down by centerfielder Caley Walden, who had the ball in her glove before crashing into the fence and losing the ball over the fence.
The Blazers battled back, however, in the sixth putting the first three baserunners on to start the inning. The first run would score on Nelson's fielder choice. Orr then stepped up and smacked a 2-1 pitch to straight away center field, making it a 7-5 game.
UAB went in order in the seventh to end the game.
