The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
UCF Edges UAB Softball, 4-3, In Series Finale
4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team plated a run and put the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to capitalize and fell to UCF, 4-3, in Sunday's contest at UAB Softball Field. The Blazers claimed the series, 2-1, after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader.
UAB (28-14, 10-5 C-USA) tallied the first two runs of the matchup in the third after center fielder Martina Landrum led off the inning with a single. Landrum stole her 24th base of the year and moved to third on a wild pitch. Left fielder Caley Walden walked and advanced all the way to third on another wild pitch that scored Landrum. Catcher Mandy Lowman plated Walden with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Blazers held UCF (26-19, 11-6 C-USA) scoreless through four frames. In the fifth, first baseman Marissa Menendez and pitcher Ashleigh Cole knocked back-to-back base hits. Menendez and pinch runner Ashley Schmitt then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Vanessa Perez. Both crossed the plate for the Knights on a single up the middle by left fielder Morgan Bullard. UCF claimed the 3-2 lead after shortstop Tiffany Lane belted an RBI-single up the middle.
"Today's game makes us want to work harder," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "It will make us work to be quicker, stronger and just play harder. We are getting on base, but we need to bring those runners home."
Although the Blazers out-hit the Knights 7-6, UAB stranded a total of nine runners compared to UCF's three.
UAB pitcher Amber Torres (5-2) allowed five hits and three runs before freshman Lauren Webster stepped in. Webster fanned four batters in the final 2.1 innings, but the Knights tacked on another run in the sixth after Abby McClain blasted a long ball.
In the bottom of the seventh, UAB attempted to make a two-out comeback after Skates smacked a base hit followed by a double by Lowman. Skates rounded third on Lowman's hit and scored after UCF catcher McClain muffed a throw from Lane in an attempt to throw her out at home. Cole intentionally walked shortstop Kayla Orr, but the Blazer rally fell short as Kate Armstrong flied out to end the game.
"With the tying run on base, Kate Armstrong is the person I want up at the plate," Townsend said. "Although things didn't go our way, I know she's going to have numerous opportunities to come through for us in the future."
The Blazers will travel to Lipscomb Tuesday to make up a doubleheader that was postponed earlier in the season due to inclement weather. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. CT.
