The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
UAB Softball Splits Doubleheader Against East Carolina Saturday
4/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 16, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team split a doubleheader against East Carolina Saturday at UAB Softball Field. Both teams battled for 11 innings in the series opener with the Pirates eventually edging the Blazers, 3-2. Freshman Kristen McGrath's two-run homer sent UAB past East Carolina in the nightcap.
UAB is now 31-12 overall and 12-2 in Conference USA, while East Carolina owns a 30-16 overall record and a 10-7 league mark. The Blazers and the Pirates will conclude their series Sunday with a single contest at 1 p.m. CT at UAB Softball Field.
"I'm proud of the girls and the way that they played hard," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "The series ultimately comes down to timely hitting and outstanding defensive play because you know you're going to see effective pitching from both teams. We're going to come back tomorrow and look to take the series."
Game One: East Carolina 3, UAB 2 (11)
UAB and East Carolina battled it out for 11 innings, but the Pirates ultimately edged the Blazers, 3-2, in the series opener.
Toni Paisley (23-8) went the distance for the Pirates in the circle, fanning 15 batters and allowing five hits. UAB's Leigh Streetman (10-5) also had a solid performance, striking out 12 batters and surrendering two earned runs in 11 innings of work.
Second baseman Lauren Webster went 2-for-5 at the plate to lead the Blazer bats, while Pirate center fielder Jasmine Robbins finished 3-for-5.
East Carolina plated the game's first run in the fourth frame. Second baseman Kristi Oshiro belted a hit to right-center to lead off the inning. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Alex Fieldhouse before a blast to leftfield by designated player Jordan Lewis brought her home.
The Pirates increased their lead to 2-0 in the fifth after right fielder Jill Jelnick knocked an infield RBI-single.
UAB jumped on the board in the bottom of the inning. Pinch runner Tiffany Smith moved to third after third baseman Kate Armstrong reached on an East Carolina miscue, but Armstrong was called out trying to advance to second on the play. A speedy Smith then stole home while first baseman Erica Sisson was at bat.
In the bottom of the seventh, left fielder Catherine Douglass was quick on the base paths to lead off with an infield single. Shortstop Kayla Orr followed with a bunt that popped up behind the third baseman to reach first. Catcher Mandy Lowman was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Then with two outs and pinch hitter Megan McGrath at the plate, Douglass stole home to tie the game and eventually send the contest into extra innings.
Pinch runner Donna Plath threatened to score in the bottom of the 10th, going home on a single to leftfield by center fielder Caley Walden, but she was tagged out at the plate.
East Carolina's Robbins blasted a double down the leftfield line to plate left fielder Suzanne Riggs and give the Pirates the 3-2 advantage.
Game Two: UAB 2, East Carolina 0
Saturday's nightcap was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Webster singled to center field. Freshman designated player Kristen McGrath stepped up to the plate and jacked a two-run homer to hand UAB the 2-0 advantage.
Five different Blazers accounted for UAB's five hits as the Blazers out-hit the Pirates, 5-3. Riggs led East Carolina's bats going 2-for-3. Both teams left six players on base for the game.
UAB pitcher Alisha Smith (8-3) picked up the win after allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters in seven innings of work.
Faith Sutton (7-8) suffered the loss for East Carolina after giving up five hits and two earned runs.
