The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Mitchell's Three-Run Homer Lifts UAB Over Marshall
3/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 19, 2010
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. --- Junior Natalie Mitchell's three-run homer led the UAB softball team past Marshall, 4-3, Friday in the first game of the weekend series.
UAB (16-7, 2-2 C-USA) took a 3-1 lead in the second after Mitchell slugged a straight shot over the left field wall with two outs to score Mandy Lowman and Catherine Douglass.
"That was a huge two out, full count hit for Natalie," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "We took advantage of two walks by Marshall to take the lead."
Douglass tripled in the fourth and tacked on another run for the Blazers after she crossed the plate off a wild pitch by Katie Murphree.
Marshall (14-11, 0-4 C-USA) claimed an early 1-0 lead after a sacrifice fly by catcher Rebecca Gamby scored designated player Caitlyn Jackson in the first.
The Blazer defense, combined with strong pitching from Alisha Smith (5-4), then stifled the Thundering Herd through the fifth, forcing three innings that saw three up, three down.
In the sixth, the Herd belted three hits and scored two runs to close in on the Blazer lead. With the tying run on base, freshman pitcher Lauren Webster took over for Smith and led UAB out of the inning unscathed. In the seventh, Webster struck out two batters and forced a ground out to clinch the win.
"I'm very pleased with our defense," Townsend said. "We really worked together to make plays and shut down their offense. Also, once again Alisha and Lauren did a great job to combine for the win."
UAB continues its three-game series with Marshall Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. ET at Dot Hicks Field. Fans can follow the action through Gametracker live stats at uabsports.com.
