The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston
Houston Eliminates UAB From C-USA Softball Championship
5/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 13, 2010
HOUSTON, Texas --- Miscues plagued the UAB softball team in its 3-0 loss to Houston here Thursday night at the Conference USA Championship.
With their win at the Cougar Softball Complex, the fifth-seeded Cougars (30-23-1) advances to Friday's semifinal game against East Carolina, while the fourth-seeded Blazers (36-20) are eliminated from the tournament.
Houston out-hit UAB, 9-5, although all three of the Cougar runs involved errors. The Blazers recorded four miscues for the game.
"We just didn't give ourselves an opportunity to win," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "Although tonight was disappointing, this loss does not define our season."
Houston pitcher Bailey Watts (14-10) allowed no runs, fanned six batters and surrendered five hits in the win. Five different Blazers accounted for UAB's five hits.
Center fielder Martina Landrum walked to start the bottom of the first for the Blazers, followed by bunt by left fielder Caley Walden. Both moved into scoring position on a ground out by catcher Mandy Lowman, but were left on.
UAB turned a double play on a liner to third baseman Cameron Skates in the second, but Houston still tallied a run. First baseman Jennifer Klinkert knocked a single up the middle, advanced to third on a Lowman miscue and scored on a hit by third baseman Holly Anderson.
The Blazers got two on base in the third frame after Landrum belted a base hit and Skates walked. But, Lowman fouled into a double play to end the inning.
In the fourth, Houston shortstop Brooke Lathan reached and advanced to second on an error by UAB first baseman Erica Sisson. Lathan advanced to third on an illegal pitch before crossing the plate on a single by Anderson. With the bases loaded and no outs, Lauren Webster took over in the circle for Alisha Smith (13-12), fanned two batters and forced a fielder's choice to escape the inning.
The Blazer pitching staff gave a solid effort as Smith allowed five hits and two runs in three innings of work, while Webster surrendered just four hits and struck out five batters. Neither pitcher gave up an earned run.
Skates led off the bottom of the sixth for the Blazers with a shot up the middle and advanced to third on ground outs by Lowman and shortstop Kayla Orr, but was left stranded after a Kate Armstrong ground out to end the inning.
Houston clinched the game in the seventh after catcher Melissa Gregson belted a single down the left field line followed by a Reina Gaber double. Klinkert then walked to load the bases for the Cougars with no outs. Dobson hit into a fielder's choice, and Gregson gave Houston the 3-0 advantage after Lowman dropped the ball at the plate.
