The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Set To Host Lipscomb For Tuesday Doubleheader
3/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team is set to host Lipscomb for a doubleheader Tuesday. The first game is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at UAB Softball Field.
Tuesday's contest marks the 10th meeting between the two teams, with UAB leading the all-time series, 5-4. The Blazers and the Lady Bisons met four times last season, with Lipscomb claiming three games, two of which came at the Tuscaloosa Regional of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. In their last meeting, Lipscomb edged UAB, 7-6, in extra innings on May 22 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
UAB (13-7) went 3-1 at last weekend's Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech in Woodstock, Ga. The Blazers picked up wins over UMass, Georgia State and UNC Greensboro, before falling to Georgia Tech.
Senior pitcher Alisha Smith (3-1) was named to the Buzz Classic All-Tournament Team and earned her first Conference USA Pitcher of the Week Award for her performance last weekend. The Springville, Ala., product earned a pair of victories and allowed no earned runs in three appearances. She surrendered seven hits and struck out 14 batters in 13.1 innings of work.
UAB is currently hitting .244 as a team. Shortstop Kayla Orr leads the Blazer offense, batting .328 with 20 hits, including six extra-base hits and 14 RBI. Center fielder Caley Walden has scored a team-high 13 runs.
The Blazer pitching staff ranks third in Conference USA with a 1.49 team ERA. UAB has recorded nine shutouts and held opponents to a .180 batting average. The Green and Gold currently has five pitchers allowing fewer than two earned runs per game. Lauren Webster (5-2) has a team-low ERA of 0.88 after giving up just four earned runs in 31.2 innings pitched.
Lipscomb (7-8) enters Tuesday's matchup on a two-game winning streak. The Lady Bisons picked up a pair of shutout victories over Butler and Appalachian State over the weekend.
Lipscomb defeated Butler 2-0 on Friday. Pitcher Whitney Kiihnl allowed just one hit and no earned runs to pick up the win. The Lady Bisons then downed Appalachian State 3-0 on Sunday. Catcher Mollie Mitchell went 2-for-3 in the contest with one run and two RBI.
Lipscomb is currently hitting .210 as a team. Center fielder Breanna Thurman leads the team, batting .278 with 10 hits. Mitchell has posted a team-high 14 RBI.
Kiihnl (7-4) has a 0.73 ERA in 13 appearances for the Lady Bisons. She has allowed just eight earned runs and struck out 115 batters in 76.1 innings of work. JJ Nelson (0-4) has also made six appearances for Lipscomb to own a 3.85 ERA.
