The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UCF
UAB Softball Tops UCF 8-2
3/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 10, 2013
ORLANDO, Fla.--The UAB softball team completed the series sweep on Sunday as it topped UCF, 8-2, at the UCF Softball Complex.
Sophomore second baseman Heather Pearson hit a home run while junior designated hitter Kristen McGrath had two bombs over center field in the win.
"Winning on Sunday is something we take a lot of pride in," head coach Marla Townsend said. "It's neat when I look at the stats and I see that we have five RBI from our three and four hitters, who didn't account for as many of the runs we scored yesterday. It's been a lot of different people stepping up and a total team effort. I may say that a lot, but I've never meant it more than I do right now."
With the win, which was televised by Fox Sports, the Blazers improve to 11-5 overall and a perfect 3-0 in Conference USA action. The Knights fall to 14-12 on the year and 0-3 in conference.
The Blazers scored first, in the top of the third frame, as Pearson hit her first homer of the year over the left field fence.
UAB plated two more runs in the top of the fourth inning as senior center fielder Whitney Fletcher was hit by a pitch and McGrath hit her first two-run homer of the day to put the Blazers up 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, three Knights were hit by pitches to load the bases, and freshman Samantha McCloskey doubled to center field to plate their two runs of the game to cut UAB's lead to 3-2.
"Teams are going to take advantage of the freebies," Townsend said. "We loaded the base with no hits, and they had a short hop to center field to score two. It's something we're going to work on. The pitchers have to trust their stuff, and hit by pitches aren't acceptable. It's definitely something that can be fixed, but the fact that we got out of it with only two runs is why I let Streetman come in the next inning and shut down their number nine hitter. Lannah came in and did an outstanding job to finish things off."
In the top of the sixth, sophomore Hayley Davis came in to hit for senior Kate Armstrong and hit a single to left field to score Fletcher and put the Blazers up by two runs.
After a one-two-three bottom of the sixth, Pearson tripled to the right field line, while Attfield reached on a fielder's choice bunt. After Dennis struck out swinging, Fletcher launched one to center field for UAB's second triple of the day to score two more runs. McGrath then came up to bat and launched one out past center field once more to plate UAB's final two runs.
Up next, UAB hosts conference foe East Carolina at the UAB Softball Field, March 16-17. First pitch on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. CT. Sunday's game will start at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised by Fox Sports.
