The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Travels To Jacksonville State For Thursday Tilt
4/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- After playing its last six games at home, the UAB softball team will travel to Jacksonville, Ala., for a contest Thursday with Jacksonville State. The first pitch will be tossed at 6 p.m. CT at University Field.
Thursday's contest marks the 24th meeting between the two teams, with Jacksonville State leading the series, 13-10. In their last meeting, the Blazers came back from a 5-0 deficit to run-rule the Gamecocks, 13-5, in six innings. Freshman Issa Brown's three-run double highlighted an eight-run sixth inning for the Blazers.
In its last outing, UAB (22-10, 6-3 C-USA) fell to South Alabama, 2-1, Wednesday at UAB Softball Field. The Blazers led, 1-0, through the fifth inning, but a Jaguar extra-base hit, in conjunction with a Blazer error, propelled South Alabama to a 2-1 victory.
Prior to Wednesday's loss, UAB had won its last five games, including a sweep of Houston last weekend. The Blazers currently lead Conference USA with a .293 batting average, .451 slugging percentage and .364 on-base percentage.
Senior centerfielder Martina Landrum fronts the Blazer offensive attack, hitting at a .379 clip with 39 hits and 19 RBI, while sophomore catcher Mandy Lowman has registered a .375 batting average with 36 hits, eight home runs and 24 RBI.
In the circle for the Blazers, freshman Lauren Webster (10-3) has posted a 2.14 ERA, one shutout and three saves in 17 appearances. Junior Alisha Smith (7-6) has notched one shutout, two saves and retired 113 batters in 23 appearances to record a 2.22 ERA.
Jacksonville State (16-15, 4-5 Ohio Valley) defeated Alabama State, 1-0, Monday. Last weekend, the Gamecocks claimed a series with conference foe Tennessee-Martin after sweeping Friday's doubleheader, but fell Saturday, 9-6.
Centerfielder Hillary Downs leads Jacksonville State with a .340 batting average and 16 RBI, and leftfielder Chrissy O'Neal has tallied a team-high 20 runs while batting .339.
Ashley Eliasson heads the Gamecock pitching staff with a 10-7 record and a 2.81 ERA. In 22 appearances, the junior pitcher has thrown a shutout and retired 76 batters.
Blazer softball fans can follow Thursday's contest through Gametracker at uabsports.com.
