The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Minnesota
UAB Softball Completes Weekend Sweep at Citrus Classic 2
3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ORLANDO, Fla. - The UAB softball team completed the weekend sweep at the Citrus Classic 2 with a pair of wins Sunday at the Disney Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. UAB came back in the sixth to defeat the Western Illinois Leathernecks, 7-4, and followed with a 1-0 victory over the No. 13/11 Minnesota Gophers.
With today's results, UAB (14-5) finishes the Citrus Classic 2 with a 4-0 mark, and extends its winning streak to eight consecutive games.
"In the first game, we were unable to make adjustments early on, but we came through in the sixth inning to get the keys hits and load the bases for Ashley Johnson, who hit the big grand slam," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "I think that gave us momentum going into the second game. When we're playing someone in the top 20, our job is to keep it low-scoring, get on base and come through with a big hit."
Cara Goodwin (6-0) was the winning pitcher in each game today, allowing the Leathernecks one run on four hits with four strikeouts in game one. Goodwin went the distance against Minnesota, shutting out the Gophers over all seven innings and allowing five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
"Cara Goodwin had an amazing day," Townsend said. "She was the epitome of relentless. Her teammates got behind her and made some outstanding defensive plays. The offense kept battling, striving and making adjustments. I think it's a great trip for us to come down here and leave 4-0."
Ashley Johnson drove in four RBI for the Blazers on a grand slam against Western Illinois. Sara Beth Williamson finished Sunday 3-for-7 (.429) with her sixth home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Offensive performers are rounded out by JoJo Fallen, who finished Sunday 2-for-4, and by Heather Pearson, who accounted for the remaining RBI.
UAB's lone run against the Gophers came in the bottom of the sixth. Caitlin Attfield led off with a swinging strikeout, but a passed ball on strike three allowed her to reach first base safely. Attfield moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Fallen, and came home to score on what became the game-winning RBI double from Williamson.
Goodwin followed in the top of the frame with a 1-2-3 inning to complete UAB's victory over its highest-ranked opponent thus far this season.
UAB's biggest inning against Western Illinois came in the sixth. Trailing 4-0, the Blazers took the lead with a five-run inning. After Danii Fernandez, Williamson and Mary Warren loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk, Pearson plated Fernandez on an infield single that left the bases loaded. Johnson capped off the inning with UAB's first grand slam of the year to give the Blazers a 5-4 lead.
Western Illinois got on the board first after a leadoff single from Sammy Marshall, who moved to second after a groundout and followed by stealing third. Lia Romeo drove in Marshall on a 5-3 groundout to give the Leathernecks a 1-0 lead after one.
WIU put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the third. Marshall set the table by reaching third on a double and wild pitch, and scored on a double by Kelsey Marlow. After following Marshall with a walk, Teagan Walsh moved up on Marlow's double and scored on Tierney Bottino's single to cap the inning with a 3-0 Leatherneck advantage.
The fourth Western Illinois run was scored in the fourth. With two outs, Marshall reached first on her third hit of the day. Walsh followed with a single to right, and was safe after being caught in a pickle, allowing Marshall to round third and score for a 4-0 lead.
The Blazers added a pair of insurance runs on Williamson's two-run home run in the seventh, but Goodwin shut the door on the Leathernecks to capture the Blazers' first win of the day.
The UAB softball team returns home this Tuesday for a doubleheader with the Lipscomb Bisons at UAB Softball Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CT, with game two scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. CT.
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.
