The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Set to Host Lipscomb in Home Doubleheader
3/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UAB Blazers (14-5) vs. Lipscomb Bisons (8-9)
Tuesday, March 3 | 4 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. CT
Birmingham, Ala. | UAB Softball Field
Live Video: Game One | Game Two
Live Stats: Game One | Game Two
Social Media: Twitter
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Riding an eight-game win streak, the UAB softball team will begin a five-game homestand with a Tuesday doubleheader against the Lipscomb Bisons at UAB Softball Field.
UAB (14-5) has won its only home game thus far this season, as the Blazers took down Mississippi State, 5-4, in eight innings last Tuesday. The midweek win set the tone for the Blazers' weekend games, as they went 4-0 at the Citrus Classic 2 in Orlando, Fla., including a 1-0 win over No. 13/11 Minnesota on Sunday.
Lipscomb (8-9) enters the week on a three-game winning streak, as it won all three games this weekend at the Courtyard by Marriott Brentwood Purple/Gold Challenge.
Live stats and live video for each of Tuesday's matchups will be available at UABSports.com.
Blazers Sweep March 2 C-USA Player of the Week Honors
The UAB softball team took both spots in Conference USA's weekly players of the week selections, as Sara Beth Williamson was named Player of the Week and Cara Goodwin was named Pitcher of the Week.
Over the course of last week, Williamson hit .533 (8-for-15) with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBI. Williamson accounted for the game-winning run against Northern Iowa with her two-run home run, and drove in the only run of the game on a two-out, sixth inning double in UAB's 1-0 win over No. 13/11 Minnesota.
In addition, Williamson accounted for a game-tying RBI to send the game against Mississippi State to extra innings with a two-out, two-run double to the left field wall.
Cara Goodwin (6-0) picked up four wins for the Blazers last week, including a pair of complete games. Goodwin held the opposition to two runs in 21.2 innings pitched to post a 0.65 ERA over the course of the week.
In UAB's two wins over opponents in the rankings - Mississippi State (RV) and No. 13/11 Minnesota - Goodwin pitched a combined 9.2 shutout innings, including a complete-game shutout to clinch a 1-0 win over the Gophers.
Blazers Go 4-0 at the Citrus Classic 2
Riding the momentum of an extra-innings win over Mississippi State in the home opener, the UAB softball team traveled to Orlando, Fla. to play in the Citrus Classic 2, picking up wins in all four games.
The Blazers defeated Northern Iowa, 3-1 in the first game on Friday, followed by a 9-0 win over Towson in five innings. Each of Goodwin and Madison Hir went the distance in their respective games, with Hir posting a one-hit shutout against Towson.
After being rained out on Saturday, the Blazers took the field for another pair of wins on Sunday. UAB defeated Western Illinois, 7-4, thanks to a five-run sixth inning that included a grand slam from Ashley Johnson. Goodwin blanked No. 13/11 Minnesota for a 1-0 Blazers win in the second game, as Williamson came through with a two-out RBI double in the sixth inning for the game-winning run.
Scouting the Competition
UAB and Lipscomb will be meeting on the softball diamond for the 17th and 18th times in each program's history on Tuesday, with the Blazers holding an all-time 10-6 series edge over the Bisons. UAB holds a 3-2 edge over the last five matchups.
Brittany Elmore sets the table for Lipscomb, as she has started all 17 games and maintains a .340 batting average with a .400 on-base percentage, 12 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Paige Neely is hitting .327 for the Bisons with a .400 on-base percentage, eight doubles and eight RBI.
Lipscomb leans on the pitching tandem of Tanner Sanders and Kelly Young, who have combined to start all 17 games. Young is 4-4 with a 3.88 ERA, 50 strikeouts and two complete-game shutouts.
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.
