The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Kentucky
Blazers Win UK Tourney; Rout Kentucky, 20-7 (5)
3/18/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 18, 2012
Box Score (PDF) LEXINGTON, Ky. - The UAB softball team blasted a school-record six home runs in its 20-7 run-rule victory against Kentucky in the championship game of the University of Kentucky tournament on Sunday.
The Blazers went an undefeated 5-0 in the tournament and they improve to 16-10 overall, while Kentucky falls to 12-15.
The game saw nine home runs hit - three by the Wildcats and six by the Blazers, including two grand slams. UAB surpassed the previous single-game record of five home runs set by the 2002 squad versus Alabama A&M.
Kentucky got on the board first, scoring three runs in the first inning. With the bases loaded, Ginny Carroll plated a run with a sacrifice fly, followed by a Lauren Cumbess two-RBI single.
UAB answered in the bottom of the first inning. Catherine Crawford hit the first home run of the game and her first of the season. Kayla Orr and Mandy Lowman each singled. K. Orr scored on a Kristen McGrath double. Lowman and pinch runner Amy Dennis crossed the plate on an error by the Wildcat shortstop, who made an errant throw on a Maegan Hornsby grounder.
Trailing 4-3, Kentucky's Krystal Smith tied it up with a solo shot to left field in the top of the second. Later that inning, Rachel Riley gave the Wildcats a 6-4 lead with a two-run homer to left center.
In the second inning with the bases loaded, Lowman crushed a grand slam off the left field foul post to give UAB an 8-6 lead. The home run was Lowman's sixth of the season and 27th career blast, surpassing the UAB all-time career record holder Andrea Rodgers (26, 2006-09).
The Blazers added three additional runs in the third inning thanks to a three-run homer by Whitney Fletcher. The leadoff hitter plated three more runs with her second home run of the game and fourth of the tournament in the fourth inning.
The Blazers scored nine total runs in the fourth inning. Following Fletcher's three-run homer, Crawford, K. Orr and Lowman singled to load the bases for K. McGrath, who stepped up to the plate and cranked a grand slam to left field.
Issa Brown entered the game to pinch hit for Kate Armstrong and she singled to right center. Anna Kimbrell entered the game to bat for Hornsby and hit a two-run blast to center.
The Wildcats added one run in the top of the fifth inning on a solo shot from Erika Silence.
Streetman (6-3) earned the win for UAB, allowing six runs on five hits and striking out four batters.
Kentucky used four pitchers in the game. Lauren Cumbess (2-4) was tagged with the loss, surrendering seven runs in 1.1 innings pitched.
The Blazers landed four players on the All-Tournament Team in Lowman, K. Orr, Streetman and Fletcher, including an MVP selection in Orr.
Orr went 10-for-17 (.588) with one RBI, one homer and six runs scored. She was named tournament MVP after hitting a leadoff home run in the 10th inning to lift UAB to a 6-5 victory over Kentucky.
Lowman went 10-for-17 (.588) with five RBI and one grand slam. Streetman earned three wins in four appearances, including one complete game and one save. She struck out 20 batters in 15.2 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .182 hitting clip.
Fletcher hit four bombs, scored six runs and drove in nine more. She batted .389 in the tourney and accounted for 15 of UAB's 37 total runs.
UK Invitational All-Tournament Team:
Kayla Orr - UAB (MVP)
Leigh Streetman - UAB
Mandy Lowman - UAB
Whitney Fletcher - UAB
Chanda Bell - Kentucky
Brittany Cervantes - Kentucky
Lauren Cumbess - Kentucky
Megan Ussary - UMKC
Cinda Ramos - UMKC
Landon Warren - NC State
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
