The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
UAB Softball Sweeps Doubleheader With UCF Saturday
4/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | PDF Box Score 
Game 2 Box Score | PDF Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team swept a doubleheader against UCF Saturday at UAB Softball Field. The Blazers came from behind in the sixth to edge the Knights, 2-1, in the series opener, before claiming the nightcap, 5-2, after a four-run first inning.
With Saturday's wins, UAB improves to 28-13 overall and 10-4 in C-USA, while UCF drops to 25-19 and 10-6.
"I'm proud of the way we came back in the first game," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "Defensively we were solid and had some huge plays. Scoring four runs was a perfect way to start the second game after a tight first game."
Centerfielder Martina Landrum led off Saturday's finale with a double to left field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Caley Walden. Cameron Skates walked and Mandy Lowman knocked an RBI-single, before Kayla Orr blasted a three-run homer to give the Blazers the 4-0 advantage.
Skates belted her 14th double of the season to start the third inning. Lowman singled to advance Skates to third. Second baseman Kate Armstrong hit a sacrifice fly to score Skates and increase the Blazer lead to, 5-0.
In the circle for the Green and Gold, Lauren Webster (13-5) registered five strikeouts and held the Knights scoreless through the fifth. Webster gave up five hits in the win and surrendered two runs, only one earned.
"Both pitcher's did an excellent job today facing a talented UCF team that had a lot of fight," Townsend said.
UCF took advantage of a Blazer miscue in the sixth to score its first run of the game. Third baseman Hillary Barrow then belted an RBI-single to tack on another run for the Knights.
Leading the Blazer offensive attack, Skates went 2-for-2 with two runs, while Lowman went 2-for-3 with one run.
Saturday's series opener was a battle in the circle between UAB's Alisha Smith and UCF's Ashleigh Cole. The Knights plated the game's first run in the fourth after Barrow belted a double to right centerfield, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on a ground out by rightfielder Mary Helen Tyler.
UCF pitcher Cole (16-11) held the Blazers scoreless through the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth, Landrum singled to center field before Walden walked. Skates then moved UAB's base runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Lowman was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.
Orr then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and advanced to second, while Lowman was caught in a run-down play and eventually tagged out after trying to take third. Both Landrum and Walden scored on the play to claim a 2-1 lead for the Blazers.
Smith (10-7) surrendered just one run in 6.2 innings of work before Webster entered with the tying runs on base and preserved UAB's lead to pick up her fourth save of the season.
The Blazers conclude their series with the Knights Sunday with a contest at 12 p.m. CT at UAB Softball Field.
