The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
No. 19/17 LSU
Blazers Fall To No. 19 LSU, 10-5
2/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 6, 2009
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - The UAB softball team dropped its season opener to No. 19 LSU in the opening round of the Hawai'i Paradise Classic on Thursday night. It was the first time since 2001 that the Blazers have lost their first game of the season.
"We made too many mistakes," said UAB softball head coach Marla Townsend. "But we hit the ball well and had some quality at-bats. We were in this game until the end."
The Tigers jumped out to early lead in the bottom of the second inning after loading the bases. First baseman Anissa Young hit a grand slam to left field to take an early 4-0 lead.
LSU added two more runs in the third before the Blazers scored off a double by sophomore Laura Callaway in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Callaway was able to knock in freshman Catherine Douglass and senior Andrea Rogers to close the gap, 6-2. But the Blazers left two potential runs on base with sophomore Amanda Allen at third and Callaway at second.
In the fourth inning, LSU's Rachel Mitchell hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield allowing Kirsten Shortridge to score after advancing to third on a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt.
Heading into the fifth inning, UAB was down 7-2. But after a sacrifice fly by Rogers, Douglass was able to score a run, tacking on one more run for the Green and Gold.
Just as UAB was closing in, LSU was able to increase their run total in the sixth inning because of two costly errors by the Blazers. With runners on first and second, Jazz Jackson reached first base on error by Rogers and Lauren Capello was able to score. Two at bats later, Juliana Santos reached first on another error by Rogers. With the error, Mitchell was able to score from third. In all, the Tigers were able to score three runs on two hits and two errors.
But even down 10-3, UAB ceased to fold. In the seventh inning, juniors Martina Landrum and Cameron Skates were able to get on base after singling to the outfield. Rogers then reached first after being walked by LSU's Cody Trahan. With two outs, Allen was hit by a pitch scoring Skates, closing the gap 10-4. Callaway then singled, scoring Rogers from third and tallying her third RBI on the night. But the Blazers could not add to their total, leaving three on base and finishing the game 10-5.
"With a quality team like LSU, you can't give them those types of opportunities," said Townsend. "But I'm proud of how the team refused to back down and kept grinding it out until the end."
Callaway led the Blazers at the plate, going three-for-four with three RBI. Rogers and Allen also had one RBI apiece. Landrum and Skates were also productive picking up two hits each.
LSU's Shortridge was credited with the win and Casey Faile picked up the save. Freshman Lindsey Croft was credited with the loss after going all six innings in her first collegiate appearance.
Up next for UAB will be No. 6 Oklahoma at 1 p.m. HST on Friday as they continue play in the Hawai'i Paradise Classic.
