The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Begin 2009 Campaign On The Road
2/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 4, 2009
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - The UAB softball team begins its 2009 season on the road against three teams that all advanced to postseason play last year when it travels to Hawai'i to participate in the Hawai'i Paradise Classic this week, Feb. 5-7.
"We are really excited to be a part of this tournament," said UAB softball head Marla Townsend. "We are ready for this challenging opportunity."
Starting off the season, the Blazers will face No. 19/17 LSU on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. HST. The last time UAB has faced off against the Tigers was a 3-0 loss in 2002 at the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge. Up next for the Blazers in the first of two games on Friday will be No. 10/6 Oklahoma. First pitch against the Sooners is scheduled for 1 p.m. HST. The all-time series with Oklahoma is tied at one apiece, with UAB last claiming victory, 6-5, in 2003 at the OU Nike Classic. Rounding out the tournament slate, the Blazers will square off against the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine. Receiving votes in the preseason top-25, Hawai'i last matched up against the Blazers at the 2004 Hawai'i Paradise Classic. UAB's lone victory of the tournament was a 4-3 decision over the Rainbow Wahine.
"All of the teams we are facing have a solid softball history," said Townsend. "We want to play at this level. This is where we want to be. We want to see how we match up against some of the top teams in the nation."
The Tigers of LSU enter the 2009 season ranked No. 19 in the USA Today/NFCA and 17 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll. Last season, LSU finished with a record of 44-18 and an appearance in the NCAA Regionals.
Returning for the Purple and Gold will be first-team All-SEC recipient Rachel Mitchell and pitcher Dani Hofner. Mitchell recorded a .374 batting average with 51 RBI last season. Hofner posted a 1.88 ERA with a 19-8 record in 2008.
LSU is coached by Yvette Girouard, In eight years at LSU, Girouard has posted an impressive record of 407-119.
The Oklahoma Sooners start the season at preseason No. 10. according to the USA Today/NFCA preseason poll. ESPN.com/USA Softball's preseason poll has Oklahoma ranked sixth. The Sooners are the preseason favorite to claim the Big 12 Conference title in 2009.
Last season, OU went 47-14 before wrapping up their season at the NCAA Super Regionals. The Sooners return four Big 12 first-team selections from 2008 with catcher Lindsey Vandever, pitcher D.J. Mathis and infielders Amber Flores and Samantha Ricketts.
Oklahoma is coached by Patty Gasso. Gasso is in her 15th season at OU (686-222-2).
Hawai'i enters the season out of the top 25 but is receiving votes. The Rainbow Wahine went 40-21 last season, advancing to the NCAA Regionals before falling to the eventual champion Arizona State.
Leading the way for Hawai'i this year will be the Western Athletic Conference's preseason player of the year, Clare Warwick. Warwick hit .322 last season.
Hawai'i is coached by Bob Coolen. Now in his 18th season, Coolen has led the Rainbow Wahine to an overall record of 637-388-1.
The Blazers last visited the island state of Hawai'i for the Paradise Classic in 2004. UAB finished the tournament with a record of 1-5, losing one-run games to St. Mary's and Brigham Young. The Blazers' sole victory came against tournament host, Hawai'i, 4-3.
Former player and current assistant coach Beth Mullins, was named to the 2004 Paradise Classic all-tournament team. Mullins registered a .471 batting average for the Blazers over the six-game tournament. In fact, it was Mullins who drove in the game-winning run against the Rainbow Wahine.
