The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Travels to Islanders Invitational
2/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Friday, Feb. 13 | UAB at Texas A&M Corpus Christi | 3 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 14 | UAB vs. South Dakota | 10 a.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 14 | UAB vs. Wisconsin | 12:30 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 15 | UAB vs. Wisconsin | 9 a.m. CT
Details: Chapman Field | Corpus Christi, Texas
Live Stats: Friday: Texas A&M Corpus Christi | Saturday: South Dakota | Wisconsin | Sunday: Wisconsin
Game Notes: UAB
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team will play its second slate of tournament games this weekend with a visit to Corpus Christi, Texas for the Islanders Invitational.
The Blazers (2-3) open tournament play on Friday against the hosting Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders (0-5), with first pitch slated for 3 p.m. CT.
UAB will play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting with a 10 a.m. CT matchup against the South Dakota Coyotes (1-3), followed by a 12:30 tilt against the Wisconsin Badgers (1-4)
The Blazers will wrap up the weekend with a rematch against the Badgers on Sunday at 9 a.m. CT.
Live stats will be available at UABSports.com.
Blazers Set Season Opener Runs Record
UAB opened its season with a 20-9 victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers in five innings on Friday, Feb. 6. The Blazers shattered their previous best for most runs scored in a season opener, which came in 2006 in an 11-5 win over Nicholls State.
Since the UAB softball program began in 2000, the Blazers hold an 11-5 record in season openers. Before defeating the Mountaineers in this year's season opener, UAB's last win in an opener came when the Blazers knocked off No. 16 Washington, 4-3, two years ago.
Megan Smith Tosses Complete-Game Shutout
Freshman right-hander Megan Smith recorded the Blazers' first shutout of the season and the first of her career in the 5-0 victory over George Washington on Feb. 7 at the Plainsman Invite. Smith went the distance, striking out 11 of the 24 batters she faced, while limiting the Colonials to four hits.
Smith (2-2) earned the win in each of the Blazers' victories thus far, with the other coming in the 20-9 win over Appalachian State in the season opener. The Pisgah, Ala. native picked up the win after pitching the final 2.1 shutout innings and holding the Mountaineers to two hits and two walks with a strikeout.
Following the first weekend of action, Smith ranks within the top five in Conference USA in wins (2), strikeouts (14) and innings pitched (16.1).
Scouting the Tournament Field
UAB will be meeting each team of the tournament field for the first time in program history.
UAB's first matchup comes against the host Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders, who have started the 2015 season 0-5 after finishing last season with an overall record of 16-36. The Islanders are led at the plate and in the circle by Liz Carter, who is batting .333, while maintaining a 1.43 ERA after two complete-game outings.
The Blazers will play two on Saturday, with the first matchup coming against the South Dakota Coyotes, who are 1-3 thus far this season. The Coyotes scored 27 runs in their first four games, with five driven in by Yvon Minogue, who has started her season batting .538. The Coyotes' Katie Cochran is also off to a hot start offensively, as she is hitting .455 with a home run and seven RBI.
The Blazers' final two games - one on Saturday and one on Sunday - will be played against the Wisconsin Badgers. After playing a tournament at Arizona State, the Badgers are off to a 1-4 start, one season removed from an NCAA Tournament appearance. Chloe Miller leads the Badgers offensively with a .333 batting average and seven of the Badgers' 11 RBI this season.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account, @UABathletics. For an in-depth look into the UAB softball program, follow @uabsoftball on Twitter.
