The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Alabama
UAB Falls To No. 2 Alabama In Home Opener
2/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 21, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team fell, 8-1, in its 2012 home opener against No. 2 Alabama Tuesday night at the UAB Softball Field.
The crowd of 1,083 represented the second-largest crowd to attend a softball game at the UAB Softball Field next to the 1,323 fans in attendance on the facility's opening night (Feb. 23, 2010).
The Blazers fell to 5-6, while the Crimson Tide remained undefeated at 8-0.
"I think we failed to execute defensive plays that we've done at practice," head coach Marla Townsend said. "The extra bases we gave up came back to haunt us."
Alabama stole six bases on the night, two of those coming in the second inning. With two outs and runners on second and third in the top of the second costing UAB two runs. Ryan Iamurri singled to left field to bring home a run. Iamurri stole second and the third base runner, Kendall Dawson, stole home on UAB catcher Mandy Lowman's throw to second to give Alabama the 2-0 lead.
UAB's Whitney Fletcher tripled to right field in the bottom of the third inning with one out, but was left stranded as Catherine Crawford struck out swinging and Kayla Orr grounded out.
Alabama added three runs in the third inning, two in the fourth and one more in the sixth. Freshman Danae Hays hit 2-for-3 with two RBI.
In the fourth inning, sophomore Kristen McGrath hit a solo shot directly over the centerfield wall to avoid the shutout. It was her fourth homerun of the season and ninth of her career.
Senior Amber Torres (1-2) suffered the loss for the Blazers, allowing three earned runs and four hits in two innings pitched.
Jackie Traina (6-0) earned the win for Alabama, fanning nine batters and holding the Blazers to just two hits.
"I thought our pitching staff did a good job, but we need to eliminate the number of walks we gave up," Townsend said.
The Blazers return to action Tuesday, Feb. 28 when they host Kennesaw State in a doubleheader. The first game is slated for a 3 p.m. CT start.
