The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Chattanooga
UAB Splits Doubleheader With Chattanooga On Thursday
4/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 16, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- Amanda Allen and Catherine Douglass each recorded one hit and two RBI to lead the UAB softball team to a 5-1 victory over Chattanooga in the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday night at George Ward Park. The Blazers dropped the first game of the day, 4-2.
With the split, the Blazers are now 13-28 overall and 4-14 in Conference USA play. The Lady Mocs sit at 23-19 on the year and 12-2 in the Southern Conference.
"Tonight was all about execution," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "In the first game we didn't do what we needed to do. In the second game we came out and minimized the mistakes. We were able to take advantage of some situations and come out on top."
The second game started off with the Blazers jumping out to an early 1-0 lead after Mandy Lowman drew a bases-loaded walk to score Catherine Douglass.
UAB kept the runs coming in the second inning, scoring three more runs off of three hits. Cameron Skates and Caley Walden both reached base safely after hitting a single and Martina Landrum loaded the bases after drawing a walk. Douglass then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield allowing Skates to score. With two outs, Allen ripped a two-RBI double to right centerfield, scoring Walden and Landrum.
In the fourth inning, Chattanooga was able to score on a squeeze bunt by Jessica Traxler. But the Lady Mocs grounded out two batters later to end the inning and left two runners on the bases.
The Blazers added an insurance run in the fourth when Douglass hit a RBI triple down the right field line and Landrum was able to score from first.
Allen, Douglass, Landrum, Skates and Walden recorded one hit each. Landrum added two stolen bases in the win and leads C-USA with 28 steals in 31 attempts. She needs four stolen bases to tie the school record of 32.
Amber Torres (5-5) picked up the win after pitching all seven innings. The freshman allowed only four hits, struck out five and walked one.
Michelle Fuzzard (8-7) recorded the loss for Chattanooga after pitching 1.2 innings and allowing four runs on three hits.
In the first game of the day, both team were held scoreless through the first two innings. In the third inning, Chattanooga was able to take advantage of an error by the Blazers and record a RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
UAB was able to cut the lead, 2-1, in the fourth inning. Catherine Douglass reached first base after laying down a bunt. She was then able to successfully steal second and third before crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly by Laura Callaway.
The Blazers tied the game at 2-2 after Kayla Harris scored on a RBI double by Walden in the fifth inning.
With one out in the sixth inning, Chattanooga was able to post the winning total, 4-2, after three consecutive bases hits from the middle of the Lady Moc's lineup.
UAB had a chance to possibly tie or take the lead with two runners on in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Skates fouled out before any runs could be scored.
The Green and Gold left six runners on bases in the loss, three of which were in scoring position.
Lindsey Croft (6-15) notched the loss after 5.1 innings of work. The freshman allowed four hits and four runs, three of which were earned, on the night.
Brooke Loudermilk improved to 5-1 on the year after striking out seven and walking two through seven innings.
The Blazers will finish their 2009 home schedule this weekend as Marshall comes to town for a three-game series beginning on Saturday. First pitch is schedule for 1 p.m. CT at George Ward Park.
