The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
UAB Comes Up Short Against Samford, 3-1
4/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Freshman Mandy Lowman was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in the UAB softball team's (17-30, 6-15 C-USA) 3-1 loss to Samford (16-24, 8-13 SoCon) on Thursday night at Bulldog Field. It was the Bulldogs' first win in the last eight meetings with the Blazers.
"We played a good, error-free game tonight," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "We just couldn't manufacture the runs when we needed them. We hit the ball well but just came out on the wrong end. There wasn't much more I could ask of the team."
Both teams kept each other in check through the first two innings, but Samford was able to break the stalemate in the bottom of the third. The Bulldogs' Amy Gonzalez led the inning off with a walk and would score two batters later on a RBI single to left field by Kylie Harmon for the 1-0 lead.
Samford would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, two-run home run to left field by Gonzalez.
Lowman would lead the top of the fifth off for the Blazers with a double down the left line. With one out, Kayla Harris would put the UAB on the board with a RBI double down the right line to cut into Samford's lead, 3-1. The Blazers would put two runners in scoring position after a Natalie Mitchell single and a sacrifice slap-hit by Martina Landrum, advancing Mitchell to second with Harris on third. But Caley Walden would fly out to left field to end the inning before UAB could score.
In the top of the seventh inning, Lowman was able to reach base safely after a single down the left line. With one out, Harris would single through the right side to put runners on first and second. The next batter, Mitchell, would draw a walk to load the bases. But the Blazers would hit back-to-back fly outs to end the game, 3-1.
The Bulldogs scattered eight hits off of Lindsey Croft (6-17). Croft struck out seven on the night and walked two in the loss after six innings of work.
Robyn Harmon (1-1) picked up the win for the Bulldogs after pitching six innings with two strikeouts and two walk.
UAB recorded eight hits on the night, led by Lowman. Harris was 2-for-3 with one RBI and Allen, Callaway and Mitchell all had one hit each. The Blazers left seven on base, five were in scoring position.
The Blazers will end the week tomorrow with a doubleheader at Troy, Ala. against the Trojans. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
