The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Western Kentucky
UAB Splits Doubleheader With Western Kentucky
4/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After dropping the first game of the evening, 8-2, the UAB softball team (12-24, 4-11 C-USA) bounced back to win the nightcap of Tuesday's doubleheader, 5-2, over Western Kentucky (19-12, 5-4 Sun Belt) at George Ward Park. Freshman Catherine Douglass led the Blazers in the victory, going 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI.
"We struggled out there in the first game," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "But I'm proud of the how the girls responded and came back out in the second game. We are learning something new with every game. There's always something for us to focus on."
Western Kentucky was able to take advantage of five UAB errors and quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. In the bottom of the inning, Laura Callaway hit a RBI double to right centerfield and was able to score on the play after a Western Kentucky error to cut the lead, 6-2.
The Hilltoppers scored another run in the fifth inning and one more in the seventh inning to close out the contest, 8-2. Only three of WKU's eight runs were earned.
Ryan Rogge (15-5) recorded the win after pitching a complete game. Rogge held the Blazers to six hits and struck out six in the victory.
Kayla Harris (0-2) picked up the loss after allowing three runs in three innings.
Martina Landrum was 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles in the loss.
The second game got off to a slow start for the Blazers until Douglass hit a single up the middle scoring Maegan Hornsby and Landrum for a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Western Kentucky's Terri Ellingsworth cut the lead in half with a solo home run to left field in the top of fourth inning.
In the fifth inning, Douglass hit a two-out RBI single allowing Hornsby to score from third. After Amanda Allen and Callaway were able to reach base safely, Mandy Lowman doubled down the right field line, scoring two more runs for the Green and Gold.
Western Kentucky was able to score one more run in the seventh inning to put the score at 5-2. With two runners on and the tying run at the plate, Lindsay Antone grounded out to end the game.
Lindsey Croft (6-13) picked up the win, pitching all seven innings and striking out four with one walk.
The Blazers were able to scatter 10 hits off of the Hilltoppers' Jennifer Kempf (4-7).
Douglass led UAB with three hits in three at bats and three RBI with one run scored. Hornsby recorded two hits and two runs scored.
Next up for the Blazers will be a three-game series against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane starting on Friday. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. CT at the Hardesty Complex in Tulsa, Okla.
