The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Head To Memphis For Pivotal C-USA Series
4/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2011
Game Notes 
| Gametracker 1 | Gametracker 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team will travel to Memphis for a three-game series this weekend. The Blazers and Tigers are set to play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Tiger Softball Complex and conclude the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest.
UAB At A Glance
UAB (33-15, 13-5 C-USA) has claimed 20 of its last 28 contests and is 13-4 on the road heading into Friday's opener at Memphis.
In the last outing, UAB split a doubleheader with Tulsa on Saturday, dropping the first, 2-1, before winning the second game, 7-6. The Blazers fell, 1-0, in Sunday's finale.
The UAB pitching staff ranks third in C-USA with a 1.61 team ERA. UAB has recorded 16 shutouts and held opponents to a .206 batting average. Leigh Streetman (11-6) has the league's fifth-best ERA at 1.38 after allowing 28 earned runs through 142.0 innings pitched while fanning 149.
The Green and Gold are currently hitting .255 as a team. Centerfielder Caley Walden leads the team in batting average (.348), hits (55) and runs (27), while shortstop Kayla Orr has registered a team-best 23 RBI.
Scouting Memphis
The Tigers enter the weekend with a 31-10 overall and 11-6 C-USA record. Memphis brings a 10-game winning streak into Friday's opener, including five straight league games and seven in a row at home.
Heather Mott leads the Tigers at the plate with a .370 batting average and has scored a team-best 33 runs. Jessica Phillips is hitting .360 and tops the team with 43 RBI.
In the circle, four pitchers have seen action, led by Carly Hummel. Hummel is 18-4 with a 1.26 ERA and 165 strikeouts. Janelle Valle has a 1.73 ERA and 5-2 record, while Lauren Carley is 5-4 with a 2.55 ERA and Ellen Roberts is 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA.
Recent Series History
UAB owns a 10-7 advantage in the series history against Memphis. The Blazers claimed the series last season, dropping the opener, 4-1, before winning the final two games, 5-2 and 1-0, in Birmingham.
UAB has won four of the last five meetings between the two teams and won the 2009 series in Memphis. During the three games in 2009, the Blazers outscored the Tigers, 24-5. UAB is 2-4 against Memphis at the Tiger Softball Complex.
30-Win Mark
UAB earned its 30th win of the season with a 7-0 victory over Jacksonville State on April 15. It marks the second-straight season UAB has reached the 30-win plateau and fifth time in program history.
Streetman's Strikeouts
Freshman pitcher Leigh Streetman recorded 10 strikeouts in UAB's 2-0 win against Kennesaw State on April 12. She topped that performance with 12 strikeouts against East Carolina on April 16, marking the most of her career and most for any Blazer pitcher this season.
Stellar Pitching
The UAB pitching staff has been stellar so far this season. The Blazer pitchers have combined for a 1.61 ERA, the third-best in C-USA.
Latest RPI
UAB currently sits 34th in the NCAA RPI. Houston holds the highest spot of any C-USA team at 22nd and Tulsa also ranks ahead of the Blazers in 25th.
