The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Opens C-USA Play Against Memphis Saturday
3/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2012
Gametracker Game 1 | Gametracker Game 2 | Watch | Live Chat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB Softball team will open its Conference USA schedule this weekend when it hosts the Memphis Tigers at the UAB Softball Field. The three-game series will kick off Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. CT, followed by a single game on Sunday also beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
Live Coverage
Blazer fans can follow this weekend’s action through Gametracker, Blazer Vision (Saturday only) and a new live in-game chat all available on www.UABsports.com.
UAB At A Glance
The Blazers own an 8-9 overall record and are 2-2 at home.
Earlier in the week, UAB fell 6-5 to Jacksonville State at home. Senior Kayla Orr 2-for-4 in that contest and scored two runs.
On the season, the Green and Gold are hitting .262 as a team. Senior catcher Mandy Lowman leads the Blazer offense, batting .429 and slugging .714. The Huntsville, Ala. native has a team-high 13 walks and 30 total bases. Senior Catherine Crawford has a team-best 11 runs and seven extra-base hits, while designated hitter Kristen McGrath leads the team with 12 RBI and five home runs.
The Blazer pitching staff ranks fourth in Conference USA with a 2.95 team ERA and is holding opponents to a .262 hitting clip. Sophomore Lannah Campbell (3-3) has a team-low ERA of 2.19, allowing 10 earned runs in 32.0 innings pitched.
Scouting Memphis
Memphis has an overall record of 5-16 and recently split a doubleheader with Alcorn State, defeating the Braves 5-1, before falling 3-0.
Junior Morgan Mosby tops the team with a .343 batting average and 23 hits. First baseman Jessica Phillips is batting .275 with a team-high 11 RBI and four doubles.
In the circle for the Tigers, sophomore Ellen Roberts (3-6) owns a team-best ERA of 4.15 and has held opponents to a .274 batting average.
Series History
Saturday’s series opener will be the 20th meeting between the two teams. UAB leads the all-time series 11-8.
Last season, UAB and Memphis split a doubleheader on April 30, 2011 in Memphis, Tenn. The Blazers won the first game 4-2, before falling 1-0 in the second contest.
UAB In C-USA Openers
The Blazers are 16-19 overall in Conference USA series openers. The last time UAB opened league play against Memphis was March 11, 2006 in a tripleheader. The Blazers won that series, 2-1.
In last season’s C-USA opener, UAB swept then-No. 25 Houston in Houston, Texas, marking just the second time that the Blazers won all three games against a league opponent in the conference-opening series. The first time was in March 2002 with a three-game sweep over Saint Louis.
Blazers Pitching Staff
The Blazer pitchers have allowed the least amount of hits (104) in the league and the second-lowest number of runs (61). Furthermore, they are fourth in the conference with a 2.95 ERA, 115 strikeouts and just 57 walks.
