The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Six UAB Softball Players Garner All-Conference Awards
5/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 11, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team had six players receive All-Conference USA accolades and five named to the all-conference first and second teams, the league office announced Tuesday. The Blazers tied UCF for the most first-team selections (3) and overall selections (5). The all-conference awards were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches.
Catcher Mandy Lowman, shortstop Kayla Orr and center fielder Martina Landrum were named first-team All-C-USA, while pitchers Alisha Smith and Lauren Webster were selected to the All-C-USA second team.
Webster and utility Kate Armstrong were selected to the league's All-Freshman Team. Webster also received Freshman of the Year honors, and Smith was dubbed Newcomer of the Year.
"It is an outstanding honor to have six of our starters receive all-conference awards," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "It is as much a team accomplishment, as it is an individual honor. The consistency that these young ladies have shown is one of the main reasons they were selected by other C-USA coaches. I also attribute much of their success to their high level of confidence and their solid mental game."
With three first-team selections and two second-team selections, UAB tied the school record for the most overall selections. This also marks the first time that the Blazers have received the Freshman of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year outright; last season Landrum was named Co-Newcomer of the Year.
Landrum ranks 30th in the nation and leads the league with 35 steals this season. The Sweet Water, Ala., product boasts a .376 batting average and has recorded 67 hits, the most in C-USA. In league action, Landrum ranks first in batting average (.395), slugging percentage (.632), runs scored (24), hits (30), triples (3) and stolen bases (18).
Behind the plate, Lowman ranks second in C-USA with five pick-offs and has caught 13 runners stealing. The sophomore slugger is batting .348 and leads the team with nine home runs and 40 RBI. Shortstop Kayla Orr has also notched 40 RBI this season and a team-high 10 multiple-RBI games.
In the circle for the Blazers, Webster owns a 17-5 overall record and is a perfect 7-0 in C-USA action. The Mathews, Ala. product has recorded a 1.81 ERA in 31 appearances and has held opponents to a .198 batting average. Smith (13-11) has struck out 156 batters, posted a pair of saves and owns a 2.03 ERA. The junior transfer also led UAB to a 2-0 victory over East Carolina after an 11-inning pitchers' duel against Toni Paisley, making her one of just two pitchers in the league to defeat C-USA's Pitcher of the Year.
Armstrong has made 51 starts for the Blazers in her freshman season either as the designated player or the second baseman. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native is hitting at a .262 clip, and has recorded 13 extra-base hits and 19 RBI.
The Blazers will travel to Houston for the C-USA Championship May 13-15 in Houston, Texas. In the opening round, No. 4 seed UAB will face No. 5 Houston at 7 p.m. CT at the Cougar Softball Stadium.
First-Team All-Conference USA
C - Mandy Lowman, UAB
IF - Camilla Carrera, UTEP
IF - Kayla Orr, UAB
IF - Natalie Land, UCF
IF - Tiffany Lane, UCF
IF - Vanessa Vice, Tulsa
OF - Marina Gusman-Brown, East Carolina
OF - Martina Landrum, UAB
OF - Lauren Lindsay, Tulsa
U - Stacie Townsend, UTEP
P - Ashleigh Cole, UCF
P - Toni Paisley, East Carolina
Second Team
C - Abby McClain, UCF
IF - Hillary Barrow, UCF
IF - Samantha Cobb, Tulsa
IF - Charina Sumner, East Carolina
IF - Jazmine Valle, Marshall
OF - Lelani Bernardino, Memphis
OF - Caitlin Everett, Tulsa
OF - Megan Hill, Southern Miss
U - Reina Gaber, Houston
U - Vanessa Walle, Memphis
P - Alisha Smith, UAB
P - Lauren Webster, UAB
All-Freshman Team
Kate Armstrong, UAB
Samantha Cobb, Tulsa
Caitlin Everett, Tulsa
Reina Gaber, Houston
Carly Hummel, Memphis
Ashleigh Jones, Houston
Gabby Luciani, Southern Miss
Marissa Menendez, UCF
Jazmine Valle, Marshall
Bailey Watts, Houston
Lauren Webster, UAB
Coach of the Year
Tracey Kee, East Carolina
Player of the Year
Lauren Lindsay, Tulsa
Pitcher of the Year
Toni Paisley, East Carolina
Freshman of the Year
Lauren Webster, UAB
Newcomer of the Year
Alisha Smith, UAB
