The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Hosts Southern Miss For League Series
3/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2011
Game Notes 
| Game 1 Gametracker | Watch Live
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team is set to host Conference USA foe Southern Miss this weekend for its first home league series of the season. The series will open Saturday at UAB Softball Field with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. CT, followed by a single contest Sunday at 1 p.m.
Live Coverage
Blazer fans can follow this weekend's series through Gametracker live stats and Blazer All-Access live streaming available at uabsports.com.
UAB At A Glance
UAB owns a 17-8 overall record (3-0 C-USA) and is 4-2 at UAB Softball Field heading into the Blazers' first home league series of the season against Southern Miss.
The Green and Gold have claimed eight of their last 10 games. In its last outing, UAB split a doubleheader with Murray State Tuesday afternoon at UAB Softball Field. The Blazers claimed the first contest, 4-0, before falling, 2-0, in the second matchup.
The Blazer pitching staff ranks second in C-USA with a 1.34 team ERA. UAB has recorded 11 shutouts and held opponents to a .183 batting average. Lauren Webster (7-2) has a league-low ERA of 0.73 after allowing just four earned runs in 38.1 innings pitched.
The Green and Gold are currently hitting .237 as a team. Right fielder Sallie Van Kirk leads the team with a .333 batting average. Center fielder Caley Walden has posted a team-high 13 runs and 23 hits, while shortstop Kayla Orr has registered 14 RBI.
Scouting Southern Miss
Southern Miss (9-13, 0-0 C-USA) enters this weekend's series coming off a 7-0 win over No. 25 LSU. The Golden Eagles tallied a run in the first two innings before exploding for five runs in the fifth inning to eventually shut out the Tigers. Left fielder Michelle Takeda went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI to lead Southern Miss' offensive production.
The Golden Eagles are hitting .247 for the season. Third baseman Brittany Lilly leads the team, hitting at a .350 clip. Takeda has posted a team-high 21 hits and 16 RBI, while first baseman Taylor Brown has notched 13 runs and six doubles.
Southern Miss has utilized four pitchers so far this season. Beth Dietrich (4-6) has logged the most innings in the circle, allowing 32 earned runs in 69.2 frames to own a 3.22 ERA. Kelli Smith and Gabby Luciani have both posted a 2-2 record with ERAs of 3.60 and 4.59, respectively.
Recent Series History
Saturday's series opener will mark the 37th meeting between the two teams with Southern Miss leading the all-time series, 23-13. Last season, UAB claimed the series at Southern Miss, 2-1.
The Blazers blasted 12 hits to claim the opener, 7-1, before falling 3-0 in the second game after a late three-run homer. The Green and Gold rallied to take the series finale, 6-1.
Last Time Out
UAB split a doubleheader with Murray State Tuesday afternoon at UAB Softball Field. The Blazers claimed the first game, 4-0, but fell, 2-0, in the finale.
Designated player Kristen McGrath led the Blazer offense in the first game. McGrath blasted her first career home run and went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI.
Blazer pitchers Lauren Webster and Alisha Smith combined for 14 strikeouts in the win.
Murray State put the game's only runs on the board early in Tuesday's finale. Both teams posted three hits in the contest. The Blazers loaded the bases in three different innings, but were unable to capitalize and eventually left 12 on base for the game.
