The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Set For UTEP Series This Weekend
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2009
Gametracker - Game 1 | Gametracker - Game 2 | Gametracker - Game 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team (10-18, 3-6 C-USA) will resume conference play on Saturday as the UTEP Miners (18-16, 4-5 C-USA) visit George Ward Park for a three-game series starting on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. CT.
"This is going to be an exciting series," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "Both teams are capable of hitting the ball very well. We are ready to come out and play."
The Blazers hold a 5-4 all-time record over the Miners, but last season UTEP was able to sweep the series in El Paso, Texas. UAB's last victory over the Miners came in 2007 with a 3-0 shutout in Birmingham, Ala.
The Blazers enter the contest on a five-game losing skid. The last loss came on Tuesday night to Mississippi State, 9-7. Trailing 8-0 in the fourth inning, UAB was able to score six unanswered runs but ultimately fell short as the Bulldogs walked away with the victory.
Sophomore Amanda Allen notched her six home run of the season and junior Cameron Skates broke out of her hitting slump, going 2-for-3, including her second home run this year.
Scouting UTEP
UTEP comes to town on a four-game winning streak. In their last outing on Wednesday, the Miners were able to shutout Texas State, 2-0, in San Marcos, Texas.
UTEP is lead at the plate by Chelsea Troupe. Troupe ranks second in the league with a .437 batting average and a .777 slugging percentage. She has recorded 45 hits this year, including 11 doubles and eight home runs and leads the Miners with 29 RBI.
The Miners lead C-USA with a team-batting average of .303 and an impressive 42 homeruns through 34 games this year.
Pitcher Stacie Townsend (10-10, 3.96 ERA) has seen the most of action for UTEP this season, pitching 136.0 innings in 28 appearances. She currently ranks second in C-USA with 126 strikeouts.
As a team, the Miners have a 4.59 ERA, which ranks ninth in the league.
The free hotdog tailgate hosted by the UAB National Alumni Society and the Blazer Women's Athletic Society has been canceled due to the threat of inclement weather.
