The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Marshall Defeats UAB, 3-2, in 10 innings
5/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 11, 2012
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The third-seeded Marshall Thundering Herd defeated the No. 2 seed UAB softball team, 3-2, in 10 innings in semifinal round action at the 2012 Conference USA Championship Friday at the UAB Softball Field.
Samantha Spurlock, who had a hand in all three Marshall runs in the game, singled up middle in the 10th inning with two outs and the bases loaded to give the Herd the dramatic win Friday.
The Thundering Herd (36-20) advanced to the championship game Saturday against the No. 1 seed Tulsa Golden Hurricane with the contest scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. The game was originally slated for 1 p.m. but was moved up due to the threat of inclement weather. It will be televised live by CBS Sports Network.
"I'm very pleased with the way they started the game. We had 18 assists, and anytime you touch 18 balls and make no errors that's great," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. " I think both teams executed really well. That's the kind of ball you want in a championship and having it in the semifinals says that much more about our conference.
The Blazers saw their record fall to a mark of 37-20. UAB will now await the announcement of the 2012 NCAA Championship field with Sunday night's selection show scheduled for 9 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
"With us having the 43rd toughest schedule in the country and the 15th toughest non-conference schedule, I think that speaks for itself," Townsend said. "I would love to see four C-USA teams get in. It's a matter how everybody else does. I feel like we've done our job. If we don't get that call, I'm just as proud of the team.
UAB got on the board first in the third inning as Kristen McGrath hit a line drive to center field to score Catherine Crawford.
Marshall retaliated in the bottom of the same frame. Spurlock reached base on a single and eventually scored on a squeeze bunt by Alianna Telles.
UAB broke the tie in the fourth inning, gaining a 2-1 advantage. Pinch hitter Hayley Davis singled to centerfield and Heather Pearson drew a walk. In the next at bat, Fletcher grounded out to short, but Marshall pitcher Andi Williamson stepped out of the circle, making the play live, and Davis hustled home.
Marshall knotted the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth on another squeeze bunt by Spurlock to score Alysia Hively.
The teams took a 2-2 tie into the 10th inning. Rebecca Gamby hit a leadoff double to right center and Kristina Braxton entered the game to run. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hively.
UAB reliever Leigh Streetman intentionally walked Jessica Hughes with one out to load the bases. Streetman fanned Taylor Thompson for the second out and Spurlock stepped to the plate. Spurlock hit a line drive down the middle to score the winning run.
Streetman (10-9) suffered the loss, pitching 4.2 innings and yielding three hits and one earned run.
Williamson (25-12) pitched her 25th complete game of the season to earn the win. She allowed 12 hits and recorded seven strikeouts.
