The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Radford
UAB Softball Splits Pair Of Games Friday
3/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2010
UAB-Radford Box Score | PDF Box Score
UAB-Ball State Box Score | PDF Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. --- The UAB softball team split a pair of games to open the USF Invitational Friday in Clearwater, Fla.
UAB defeated Radford, 4-1, to open the tournament Friday morning. The Blazer bats came alive in the fourth, with a double by senior third baseman Cameron Skates. Sophomore shortstop Kayla Orr answered with another double to score Skates and give UAB a 1-0 lead.
"We played two quality teams today," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "I'm proud of the girls' five extra base hits which were key to our success today."
Radford put a run on the board in the top of the fifth after a Nichole Beall double scored Lauren Williams.
The Blazers clinched the game in the bottom of the fifth scoring three runs. Sallie Van Kirk led off the inning with a base hit. Martina Landrum followed with a double to centerfield to score Van Kirk. Skates hit her second double of the game to score Landrum, and Skates scored on a single to right field by Orr.
UAB forced three Radford pitching changes, with Heather Paquette, Chelsea Kelley and Kellie Snooks all attempting to shut down the Blazers.
In the circle for UAB, junior pitcher Alisha Smith (4-3) picked up the win after fanning nine batters, and allowing no walks and only one earned run.
In their second game, the Blazers fell to Ball State, 3-2, despite a late rally.
A pitcher's duel between UAB's Lauren Webster and Ball State's Elizabeth Milian kept the game scoreless through the fourth. Milian threw 11 strikeouts, while Webster fanned nine batters and also allowed only two earned runs.
Ball State scored two runs in the fifth after a double by Collins scored Zimmerman and Carpenter. The Cardinals threatened to score again after Barkley belted a base hit, but a strong play by junior centerfielder Caley Walden ended the inning.
With two outs and a two-run deficit in the seventh, Van Kirk kept the Blazers alive with a base hit. Landrum followed by smacking a triple to right center to score Van Kirk and close in on the Cardinal lead. Walden hit a single to left center to bring in Landrum and tie the game.
With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Ball State's Alyssa Freiling singled to right field. Despite a strong effort by Smith and the UAB defense, Amanda Carpenter doubled and Freiling scored off a wild pitch to edge the Blazers, 3-2.
"The hits to tie up the game showed heart and determination," Townsend said. "The game was a battle between the pitchers, and they took advantage of our mistakes. But coming out with one win against two teams that were 2009 conference champions is a great way to start the weekend."
Walden led the Blazers offensively against Ball State, going 3-for-4 with one RBI and two stolen bases.
Friday, Orr, Walden and Landrum led at the plate, with the trio posting nine hits, four RBI and 12 total bases for the day. Skates was also an offensive force, smacking two doubles in five at bats.
The Blazers continue the USF Invitational Saturday, with a pair of games against Michigan teams slated for the afternoon. UAB will play Central Michigan at 3 p.m. ET, immediately followed by a contest with Western Michigan at 5 p.m. ET.
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