The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Jacksonville State
Blazers Blank Jacksonville State, 7-0
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2011
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- Centerfielder Caley Walden went 4-for-4 and pitcher Leigh Streetman tossed six scoreless innings to lead the UAB softball team to a 7-0 win over Jacksonville State on Thursday night at University Field. Walden and shortstop Kayla Orr each drove in a pair of runs as UAB improved to 30-11, marking the program's second-straight 30-win season and the fifth in school history.
"This was one of our best hitting performances of the season," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "We were consistent at the plate and getting timely hits. Caley was especially seeing the ball well tonight and did a good job waiting for her pitch."
The Blazers took the early lead, using five hits to score three runs in the top of the second. Designated player Kristen McGrath got things rolling with a leadoff single then first baseman Megan McGrath and second baseman Lauren Webster followed with back-to-back base-knocks. Rightfielder Sallie Van Kirk grounded to short, but a bad throw on the play loaded the bases for the Blazers. That's when Walden delivered a two-RBI double to put the Blazers on the board. Leftfielder Catherine Douglass squeezed home another run with a perfect bunt for a base-hit to make it 3-0.
Walden struck again in the fourth, this time crossing the plate on Douglass' two-out RBI-single. Orr followed with her third home run of the season, belting the first pitch she saw over the centerfield wall to make it 6-0.
Streetman worked out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth. After a hit batsman, the Gamecocks hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Orr picked up a tough grounder and fired it home to preserve the shutout and pick up the second out before Streetman induced a pop up to end the threat.
The Blazers tacked on their final run in the seventh. Catcher Mandy Lowman singled and pinch runner Tiffany Smith made her way around the bases on a stolen base and pair of wild pitches.
Streetman (10-4) blanked the Gamecocks through six innings to pick up the win, allowing four hits and fanning six. Amber Torres came on in the seventh to complete the shutout. Gamecock starter Savanna Hennings (2-2) suffered the loss after pitching 3.2 innings and giving up six runs, five of them earned, on 11 hits without striking out a batter.
UAB returns home for the weekend to host East Carolina in a crucial Conference USA series. The Blazers and Pirates will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
