The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Travels to FIU for Conference USA Series
4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UAB Blazers (23-8, 7-1 C-USA) at FIU Panthers (22-16, 5-7 C-USA)
Thursday, April 2 | 5 p.m. CT
Friday, April 3 | 4 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. CT
Miami | FIU Softball Stadium
Coverage: Live Stats | Twitter | Game Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team travels to Miami on Wednesday for a three-game Conference USA series with the FIU Panthers on Thursday and Friday at FIU Softball Stadium.
First pitch for game one on Thursday is slated for 5 p.m. CT. The Blazers and Panthers will play two on Friday, with the first game of the doubleheader set to begin at 4 p.m. CT.
UAB (23-8, 7-1 C-USA) will be playing in its second away conference series and its fourth overall Conference USA set of 2015. The Blazers swept both of North Texas and UTEP at home, while they split with UTSA in a weather-shortened series in San Antonio, Texas.
The only mutual conference opponent between the two teams thus far is North Texas, who swept FIU (22-16, 5-7 C-USA) in Miami on March 21 and 22. The Panthers recorded each of their series wins on the road this season, as they won two of three games at Middle Tennessee and at Florida Atlantic, while dropping two of three at home to Marshall.
UAB is 7-3 in its last 10 games played and is 15-7 away from home this season, while FIU has gone 5-5 over its last 10 and holds an 8-10 record in home games in 2015.
Live stats will be made available by FIU for each game of the series.
Attfield Among National Batting Average Leaders
Caitlin Attfield has been a fixture atop the UAB lineup in 2015, starting all 31 games for the Blazers at the leadoff spot in the order. The shortstop entered this week batting .480, and went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader at Troy to boost her average to .495 so far this season.
According to the NCAA's national statistical rankings, Attfield's .480 batting average entering the week checked in as the 17th-highest in the nation. With her average rising to .495 on Tuesday, Attfield hoisted herself to 10th in batting average nationally.
Scouting FIU
UAB and FIU have faced each other five times previously on the softball diamond, with the Blazers holding a 3-2 edge in the all-time series. The two teams met in a Conference USA series for the first time last season in Birmingham, where UAB won two of the three games in the series.
FIU is led at the plate by Stephanie Texeira, who is batting .458 with seven home runs and 38 RBI this year. Texeira has built up a .625 on-base percentage this season, as she has reached on a walk (39) more times this season than on a base hit (38).
FIU has relied upon right-hander Corinne Jenkins, who has started 21 of FIU's 38 games played and has tossed 127 of the 244 innings the Panthers staff has pitched this season. Jenkins has a 14-7 record in 2015 with a 2.70 ERA and 78 strikeouts.
The Panthers have started Shelby Graves in 12 games this season, who has compiled a 4-8 record with a 5.39 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched.
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.
