The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Begin Four-Game Home Stretch With Jacksonville State
5/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 4, 2011
Game Notes 
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team finishes out the 2011 regular season with four straight home games, beginning Thursday against Jacksonville State. The Blazers and Gamecocks square off at 6 p.m. at UAB Softball Field. The Green and Gold then welcome Marshall this weekend to conclude the regular season. The C-USA matchup begins Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader and wraps up Sunday at noon with a Senior Day ceremony prior to the first pitch.
UAB At A Glance
UAB (34-16, 14-6 C-USA) has claimed 21 of its last 30 contests and is 14-5 at home heading into the final four games of the season.
In the last outing, UAB split a doubleheader with Memphis on Saturday, winning the first game, 4-2, before falling in game two, 1-0. Sunday's series finale was canceled due to inclement weather.
The UAB pitching staff ranks second in C-USA with a 1.57 team ERA. UAB has recorded 16 shutouts and held opponents to a .206 batting average. Leigh Streetman (11-7) has the league's fourth-best ERA at 1.35 after allowing 29 earned runs through 150.2 innings pitched while fanning 159.
The Green and Gold are currently hitting .253 as a team. Centerfielder Caley Walden leads the team in batting average (.337), hits (56) and runs (27), while shortstop Kayla Orr has registered a team-best 24 RBI.
Scouting Jacksonville State
Jacksonville State brings a 35-15 record into Thursday's contest. The Gamecocks dropped two of three over the weekend to Eastern Illinois, sandwiching 4-3 and 3-1 losses around a 4-0 win.
Kristin Graham leads Jacksonville State with a .381 batting average, while Amanda Crow leads the team in hits (47), runs (39) and home runs (15).
Tiffany Harbin has carried the load in the circle for the Gamecocks. Harbin is 21-8 with a 2.53 ERA. She has accumulated 220 strikeouts through 174.0 innings pitched.
Recent Series History
The two teams met in the opening game of the season at the All-Alabama Softball Classic and it was Jacksonville State coming away with the 5-4 win. The Blazers evened the season series on April 14 in Jacksonville, earning a 7-0 victory.
Prior to the Gamecocks' win last year, UAB had won five in a row over Jacksonville State. Overall, the Blazers are 4-4 against the Gamecocks in the Magic City and Jacksonville State hasn't won in Birmingham since 2005.
Scouting Marshall
The Thundering Herd brings a 19-29-1 overall and 8-9-1 C-USA record into this weekend's series. Marshall earned 5-1 and 1-0 victories over UTEP on Saturday before tying the Miners, 8-8, on Sunday.
Ashley Gue leads Marshall with a .307 batting average, while Rebecca Gamby has been the Herd's leading RBI-getter at 31. Gamby also tops the team with 12 home runs.
In the circle, a trio of pitchers have split time for Marshall. Erika Bennett has made 27 appearances and has a team-best ERA of 3.27 with a 2-5 record. Natalee Pulver has seen the most action, tossing 130.0 innings with a 4.95 ERA and 9-14 record. Andi Williamson is 7-10 with a 3.28 ERA.
Recent Series History
Marshall holds a 9-8 advantage in the series against UAB. The Blazers had won three in a row before dropping the series finale last year in Huntington, 3-2.
UAB is 4-2 against the Herd in the Magic City, having dropped game two of a three-game series to Marshall in both 2009 and 2007.
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.
Stellar Pitching
The UAB pitching staff has been stellar so far this season. The Blazer pitchers have combined for a 1.57 ERA, the second-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 21st and Tulsa also ranks ahead of the Blazers in 26th.
