The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Michigan State
UAB defeats Michigan State, 3-2
2/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2012
Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 - Live Stats | Game 2 - Live Chat
MIAMI – The UAB softball team defeated Michigan State, 3-2, in its first of two games on the final day of the FIU Combat Classic. With the win UAB improves to 2-2, while Michigan State falls to 1-4.
The Blazers scored early in the top of the first inning. Catherine Crawford tripled to right-center field, scoring Whitney Fletcher, who walked to lead off the inning.
The triple marks the ninth of Crawford’s career and it ties the most in UAB all-time history set by Amanda Ellis (2001-04).
Mandy Lowman singled up the middle to score Crawford and give UAB the early 2-0 lead.
The Blazers added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Kristen McGrath cranked a pitch over the right field wall for her second home run of the tournament.
The Spartans retaliated in the fifth inning. The lead-off batter walked to first and stole second. With a runner on first UAB pitcher Lauren Webster fanned the next batter. The Blazers’ Amber Torres took over for Webster in the circle and struck out the next batter.
With two outs, Michigan State singled up the middle. The runner on second scored and the batter advanced to second base. With the top of the order up to bat, the Spartans hit a line drive that smacked third baseman McGrath in the shoulder.
The ball rolled toward UAB’s dugout and the runner on second scored. The batter tried to run all the way to third, but was tagged out to end the inning.
UAB had a chance to score one or two insurance runs in the seventh, registering three hits in that inning alone. But with the bases loaded and two outs, UAB grounded out to second base.
Webster (1-0) earned the win. She fanned seven batters and scattered three hits in 5.1 innings of work. Torres was credited with the save, pitching 1.2 innings and striking out two batters.
Michigan State’s Carly Nielson was charged with the loss.
The Blazers out hit the Spartans 12-8 and struck out just twice to Michigan State’s nine.
UAB will compete in its fifth and final game of the FIU Combat Classic at 3:30 p.m. ET against tournament host FIU.
Live stats and a live in-game chat will be available on www.UABsports.com.
