The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Season Wrap-Up
6/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 4, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –The UAB softball team completed a 2012 campaign that was highlighted by the program’s best finish in Conference USA and a third-consecutive at-large bid to the NCAA Championship.
The Blazers, led by 14th-year head coach Marla Townsend, ended the season 37-22 and finished second in conference play at 17-7. Additionally, UAB had six players earn Conference USA postseason awards.
Here are a few more notes about the Blazers’ success in 2012:
30-Win Mark
The Blazers earned their 30th win of the season on April 21 with a 8-0, five-inning victory at UTEP. It marked the third straight year and sixth time in program history UAB reached the 30-win plateau.
UAB went on to finish with 37 wins, tied for second-most in program history.
NCAA Appearances
The UAB softball made its third-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament this season. UAB traveled to the Knoxville Regional hosted by No. 5 Tennessee. The Blazers fell to Virginia Tech, 4-1, in the opening round and then fell to Tennessee, 8-0 (5), in an elimination game.
RPI
UAB never ranked below No. 49 in the RPI during the season as the Blazers played the 15th toughest non-conference schedule in the country. On April 16, UAB had its highest-ever RPI ranking at No. 33.
Individual Honors
NFCA Division I All-Region First Team – Mandy Lowman
NFCA Division I All-Region Second Team – Kayla Orr
C-USA All-Tournament Team – Kristen McGrath
C-USA Co-Newcomer of the Year – Whitney Fletcher
All-Conference USA First Team – Mandy Lowman
All-Conference USA Second Team – Whitney Fletcher, Catherine Crawford, Lannah Campbell, Kristen McGrath
C-USA All-Freshman Team – Heather Pearson
C-USA All-Academic Team – Mandy Lowman, Catherine Crawford
C-USA Hitter of the Week – Whitney Fletcher (3/19, 4/23)
C-USA Pitcher of the Week – Lannah Campbell (3/12, 4/30), Amber Torres (4/23)
Finishing Strong
With a 17-7 league record, the Blazers finished the 2012 regular season in second place in C-USA, the highest-ever finish in school history. In addition, UAB earned the program’s highest seed in the C-USA Championship at No. 2.
C-USA Championship
UAB hosted the 2012 Conference USA Softball Championship for the first time in program history. The Blazers advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 first-round win over Memphis, but were then defeated by Marshall, 3-2 (10).
UAB Records Broken
The squad hit six home runs at Kentucky (3/18), topping the single-game record of five set by the 2002 squad vs. Alabama A&M.
In addition, the team has surpassed the single-season home run record of 40 set in 2009. The team finished with 53 long balls with the record-breaking homer hit at Chattanooga by Heather Pearson - a three-run blast for her first as a Blazer.
Senior Mandy Lowman set a new UAB career home run record when she hit her 27th vs. Kentucky (3/18), topping the 26 Andrea Rodgers hit (2006-2009). Lowman finished with 11 homers in 2012 and 32 in her career.
Lowman also set a new UAB career RBI record with 126th, surpassing Cliffanie Engram’s 124 (2000-03).
Senior Catherine Crawford smacked her 10th career triple against North Dakota (2/18) to surpass the previous record of nine set by Amanda Ellis (2001-04). Crawford finished with four triples on the season and 12 in her career.
Kristen McGrath blasted her school-record 14th home run of the season at Southern Miss (4/28), bettering the 13 hit by Andrea Rodgers in 2007.
Stellar Pitching
The Blazer finished the season first in the league in saves (6), second in ERA (2.19), runs allowed (160), innings pitched (399.2) and strikeouts (375), and third in wins (37) and walks allowed (142). Senior Amber Torres concluded the season with a 1.36 ERA to rank 14th in the nation.
Successful Seniors
The 2012 senior class, consisting of six Blazers, was arguably one of the most successful classes to wear the Green and Gold. In four years at UAB, they played in a brand new facility, compiled an impressive 134-97 overall record and earned the program’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Lucky 7
The Blazers won their first seven consecutive conference games of the season, marking the first time in program history UAB went 7-0 to start league play.
The seventh victory came in the series opener against Houston on March 31 with a score of 3-2.
C-USA Opener Sweep
The Blazers swept Memphis in the conference-opening series, marking just the third time that the Blazers won all three games against a league opponent in the conference-opening series. UAB was the only C-USA team to win all-three games of its first league series this season.
The Blazers went on to win six of their eight C-USA series, including three sweeps. In addition, UAB won the first game of every C-USA series.
