The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB To Host South Alabama Wednesday
3/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2012
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB softball team will host South Alabama Wednesday at the UAB Softball Field for a 4 p.m. matchup, before heading to Nashville, Tenn. for a doubleheader against Lipscomb on Thursday. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Blazers (11-9, 3-0 C-USA) have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games, including a three-game sweep in their conference-opening series against Memphis last weekend.
Senior catcher Mandy Lowman leads the Blazers with a .451 batting average, 23 hits, 15 RBI and five home runs. Senior shortstop Catherine Crawford is batting .327 and is UAB’s leader in runs (14) and triples (4), while designated player Kristen McGrath is hitting .315 with five long balls.
The Blazer pitching staff owns a 2.64 ERA. Sophomore lefty Lannah Campbell (5-3) owns the team-low ERA of 1.52. In 46.0 innings pitched, Campbell has allowed just 10 earned runs, while striking out a team-best 55 batters and only walking seven.
In The Ranks
Four Blazers rank in the top 50 nationally in nine total statistical categories:
• Senior catcher Mandy Lowman – No. 23 in on-base percentage (.563), No. 33 in batting average (.451) and No. 43 in slugging percentage (.804).
• Senior shortstop Catherine Crawford – No. 11 in triples per game (0.2) and No. 7 in triples (4).
• Sophomore pitcher Lannah Campbell – No. 18 in walks per seven innings pitched (1.07), No. 43 in strikeouts per seven innings (8.4) and No. 47 in ERA (1.52).
• Senior pitcher Amber Torres – No. 15 in saves (2).
Sister Sister
UAB pitcher Lannah Campbell’s identical twin sister Hannah is a pitcher for South Alabama and the two could square off on Wednesday.
Scouting South Alabama
The Jaguars (14-6, 3-0 Sun Belt) swept Louisiana-Monroe last weekend in their conference-opening series to stretch their winning streak to six games.
A pair of freshmen leads the team offensively in left fielder Alyssa Linn and designated player Blair Johnson, along with junior shortstop Brittany Fowler. Linn is batting a team-high .393, while Johnson leads the team with 25 hits in 68 at bats (.368). Fowler tops the team in RBI (16) and home runs (4).
Junior pitcher Jessica Dobson is 2-0 in five starts with a team-low 1.08 ERA. Sophomore lefty Hannah Campbell (6-5) leads the squad with 66 strikeouts, pitching 71.1 innings with a 2.65 ERA.
All-Time Series
South Alabama leads the all-time series with UAB, 4-2. The teams last met at the Hibbett-Easton All-Alabama Classic in Vestavia Hills, Ala. on Feb. 11, 2011. The Jaguars defeated UAB, 4-2, in that contest.
Scouting Lipscomb
The Lady Bison (15-6, 0-0 Atlantic Sun) went 4-0 at their own Lady Bison Classic last weekend defeating Drake, Eastern Michigan, Alabama State and MTSU. The victories extend Lipscomb’s win streak to seven games.
Senior pitcher Whitney Kiihnl leads the squad with a .469 batting average. She is also 13-3 in the circle with a 2.03 ERA and has pitched six shutouts, allowing 28 earned runs in 96.2 innings pitched.
Junior infielder Kelsey Cartwright has started all 21 games and is batting .409 with a team-best seven home runs, 27 hits, 19 runs and 17 RBI.
All-Time Series
UAB leads the all-time series against the Lady Bison, 5-4. UAB dropped the last two games to Lipscomb, 4-1 and 7-6 (9), at the 2010 NCAA Regionals in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
