The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Resumes Conference Play This Weekend At East Carolina
4/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2010
Gametracker Game 1 | Gametracker Game 2 | Game Notes 
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team continues a game-filled week with an important conference series at East Carolina starting Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET, and continuing Sunday with a contest at 12 p.m. ET.
In the latest standings, East Carolina tops C-USA with a 5-1 record in conference play, while UAB is in a three-way tie for second place with a 6-3 record. Saturday's series opener marks the 29th meeting between the two teams. The Pirates narrowly lead the series, 15-13.
After sweeping a conference series with Houston last weekend, UAB (22-11) dropped midweek contests to South Alabama and Jacksonville State, both by a score of, 2-1. At Jacksonville State Thursday, the Blazers plated a run with no outs in the seventh, but UAB's rally fell short as it was unable to capitalize with two runners on.
At the beginning of the week, the Blazer bats topped the conference. UAB has posted a .289 team batting average, .443 slugging percentage and .362 on-base percentage.
With a .384 batting average, sophomore catcher Mandy Lowman leads the Blazers offensively. Sophomore shortstop Kayla Orr has posted a team-high 25 RBI, while Lowman and senior third baseman Cameron Skates are close behind with 24 RBI apiece.
East Carolina (22-12) enters the series after winning eight-straight games. The Pirates shut out UCF in all three-games last weekend, and claimed a midweek doubleheader with Hampton University by scores of, 9-0 (5), and, 12-0 (5).
Junior Toni Paisley (16-7) has won her last nine starts, notched eight shutouts and retired 194 batters to boast a 1.47 ERA for the season, the second-lowest in C-USA.
Leftfielder Mari Gusman-Brown leads the Pirates, hitting a .402 clip, and registering six doubles, nine home runs and a team-high 25 RBI. Second baseman Charina Sumner also fronts the ECU offensive attack, with a .361 batting average, eight doubles and 20 RBI.
Fans can follow this weekend's series through Gametracker at uabsports.com.
