The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Welcomes UTEP For Weekend Series
4/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2011
UAB-UTEP Game Notes | Gametracker | Watch
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball returns home to host the UTEP Miners in Conference USA action this weekend at UAB Softball Field. The two teams open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and wrap up action on Sunday at 1 p.m.
UAB At A Glance
UAB has claimed 11 of its last 13 contests and is 7-2 at home heading into this weekend's series against UTEP.
The Blazers have claimed three straight C-USA series. Last weekend, UAB dropped the first of three games at UCF but won the final two to claim the series.
The UAB pitching staff ranks first in C-USA with a 1.29 team ERA. UAB has recorded 11 shutouts and held opponents to a .191 batting average. Lauren Webster (9-2) has a league-low ERA of 0.55 after allowing just four earned runs in 50.2 innings pitched.
The Green and Gold are currently hitting .251 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 18 runs and 35 hits, while shortstop Kayla Orr has registered 18 RBI.
Scouting UTEP
UTEP currently holds a 16-19 overall record and 1-5 in C-USA. The Miners are coming off a doubleheader split of New Mexico on Tuesday. New Mexico claimed the first game, 10-4, before UTEP bounced back to win the second, 10-3.
The Miners are hitting .287 as a team with Chelsea Troupe leading the UTEP offense. Troupe is hitting .421 while topping the team in hits (40), runs (36) and RBI (31).
Courtney Auger has carried the bulk of the load for UTEP in the circle this season. Auger has an 8-9 record and a 4.02 ERA. She has given up 53 earned runs through 92.1 innings. Megan Atchison, Laura Ramos and Joanna Krienitz also have seen considerable time in the circle for the Miners. Atchison is 3-5 with a 5.57 ERA in 18 appearances, Ramos is 2-3 with a 6.81 ERA in 17 appearances and Krienitz is 2-2 with a 7.60 ERA in 13 appearances.
Recent Series History
Saturday's series opener will mark the 16th meeting between the two teams. It marks UTEP's third trip to Birmingham and first since 2009. The Blazers are 4-2 against the Miners in the Magic City.
UTEP has won seven of the last nine meetings and three of the five series against UAB.
Last year, UTEP claimed the series with 5-3 and 9-8 victories in the first two games before the Blazers took the finale, 4-2, in El Paso.
Stellar Pitching
The UAB pitching staff has been stellar so far this season. The Blazer pitchers have combined for a 1.29 ERA, the best in C-USA and eighth best in the nation. Leigh Streetman's five saves are tops nationally.
