The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UMass
Four Bombs Boost Blazers Over UMass 19-0
3/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2012
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Blazers scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back, downing UMass, 19-0, in five innings on Saturday as part of the Easton Alabama Classic at Rhoads Stadium.
"Today was a tale of two games," head coach Marla Townsend said. "In the first game against Maryland we had a hard time manufacturing hits. We came out today, got a few hits in the first inning and it was contagious."
The Blazers (8-7) scored 19 runs on 18 hits, 12 of the runs coming in the fourth inning. Pitcher Lannah Campbell (3-2) surrendered just one hit in the win and fanned six batters, pitching all five innings.
"Lannah pitched a one-hitter and an outstanding game," Townsend said. "Even when you're up five to nothing in the first, teams like UMass can come back quickly."
UMass, which was receiving votes in both major polls, fell to 6-7 overall.
In the top of the first inning with one run already scored and runners on the corners, designated hitter Kristen McGrath belted a three-run homer over the centerfield wall to put the Blazers up 4-0. The home run was her fifth on the season, tying her season-best record.
In the next at-bat, freshman Hayley Davis roped a solo shot out of the park for her first collegiate home run.
UAB added two additional runs in the second inning thanks to a Kayla Orr two-run bomb, her first of the season, over the left field wall, which scored Catherine Crawford. Crawford reached base on a double.
The Blazers scored 12 runs on 10 hits in the top of the fourth inning to take the commanding 19-0 lead. UAB plated eight runs before the first out was made. Three of those runs came off the bat of junior Lauren Webster, who crushed her first collegiate home run over the left field wall.
In a true team effort, the Blazer line up saw 18 different players and 13 different athletes crossed the plate. Crawford went 3-for-3 and scored three runs. Webster had 4 runs batted in and went 2-for-4 with one run.
"I'm proud of the overall effort and everybody that got to come in and get some good at bats," Townsend said. "I'm proud of the way they turned things around from the first game. I'm very pleased with our defensive and the extra base hits.
"My challenge to them is to know that you can be the person to spark that anytime. You can be that one person who gets a hit and then it builds from there."
UAB will take on No. 1 Alabama Sunday in its final game of the tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
