The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
UAB Softball Splits Doubleheader At UCF
3/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2011
ORLANDO - The UAB softball team split a doubleheader at UCF Saturday afternoon. UCF plated late runs in the opener to claim the high-hitting affair, 6-0, but UAB's bats stayed hot in the second game to send the Blazers past the Knights, 5-1.
UAB is now 23-9 overall and 7-1 in Conference USA action, while UCF is 12-21 and 3-5 in league play. The Blazers and the Knights will conclude the series Sunday with a single contest at 12 p.m. ET at the UCF Softball Complex.
"We had every opportunity in the world to produce runs and failed to do so in the first game," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "When you do that against a good team like UCF it gives them the spark they need. But, we did a great job getting on and putting the ball in play. We straightened it out in the second game and got on them early. It just proves timely hits are important."
Game One: UCF 6, UAB 0
Saturday's series opener was scoreless through the first four and a half innings, but UCF plated six runs in the final two innings to claim the 6-0 win.
Both teams registered nine hits in the contest. Blazer center fielder Caley Walden went a perfect 4-for-4 to lead UAB at the plate, while UCF third baseman Allie Jest went 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Knights.
Senior Diana Rojas (4-6) picked up the win for the Knights in the circle after allowing no runs in seven innings of work.
UAB freshman pitcher Leigh Streetman (6-4) suffered the loss after giving up nine hits and four earned runs.
The Blazers loaded the bases in the first inning, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and eventually stranded nine runners on base for the game.
In the fifth inning, center fielder Vanessa Perez and shortstop Tiffany Lane recorded base hits before Jest knocked a RBI-single up the middle. Then with the bases loaded center fielder Natalie Land belted UCF's fourth hit of the inning to score Lane and give the Knights the 2-0 advantage.
UCF plated four additional runs in the sixth frame. Catcher Abby McClain led off the inning with a home run over the centerfield wall. The Knights plated two more runs on Jest's single down the rightfield line. Lane scored on a muffed throw by Blazer shortstop Kayla Orr.
Game Two: UAB 5, UCF 1
UAB continued to hit in the second game, out-hitting UCF, 6-4, to eventually take the 5-1 win.
Blazer catcher Mandy Lowman went 2-for-r with one run and three RBI to lead the Blazer bats, while Orr went 2-for-3 with one run. McClain notched a pair of hits with one run to lead UCF at the plate.
Senior pitcher Alisha Smith (5-1) earned the win for the Blazers, holding UCF to four hits and no earned runs in seven innings of work.
UCF used two pitchers in Saturday's nightcap. Lacey Dinney (8-7) made the start, giving up five runs, three of which were earned, on five hits in the first 4.2 innings. Ashley Schmitt came in relief, holding UAB to one hit in the final 2.1 frames.
The Blazers jumped on the board in the second inning. Designated player Kristen McGrath belted a base hit through the left side to plate pinch runner Tiffany Smith. Pinch runner Kristi Morton moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout and scored on a hit up the middle by right fielder Sallie Van Kirk to give UAB the early 2-0 lead.
Lowman blasted her third long ball of the season over the centerfield wall in the fourth to tally another run for the Green and Gold. Then with the bases loaded on free passes in the fifth, the Huntsville, Ala., product came through with another big hit to score Walden and Orr and hand UAB the 5-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Land led off with a single up the middle. Next up, McClain reached on a Blazer miscue to put two runners on base. The UAB defense came up with a big double play on the next at bat to stop lead runner Land. But, McClain scored from second on a base hit to rightfield by first baseman Marissa Menendez to post UCF's only run of the game.
