The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
UAB Softball Falls Twice at Marshall in Saturday Doubleheader
5/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One: Final Stats | Box Score (PDF)
Game Two: Final Stats | Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- The UAB softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader at Marshall on Saturday at Dot Hicks Field. The Blazers fell in game one, 6-1, and were defeated by the Thundering Herd in game two, 5-2.
"You can't spot a team three runs in the first inning in both games and expect to come out on top when you play a team as scrappy as Marshall," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "This late in the year, we really have to come out and take care of business. The plan is to come out tomorrow and to trust our game from the first pitch to the last, give it all we've got and leave it all on the field."
Cara Goodwin (12-5) blanked the Thundering Herd over her final three innings pitched, but was tagged with the loss in game one after allowing six runs (five earned) in her first three frames. Megan Smith (14-8) was charged with the loss in game two after allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings pitched.
JoJo Fallen led the Blazers (30-18, 14-7 C-USA) at the plate with an RBI and three hits in seven chances (.429). Sara Beth Williamson recorded an RBI double and a pair of walks, while Heather Pearson accounted for the Blazers' remaining RBI on a solo home run in game two.
The UAB softball team wraps up its 2015 regular season slate with the series finale at Marshall on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.
Game One Recap: Marshall 6, UAB 1
Marshall put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Kaelynn Greene set the table for the Thundering Herd, as she reached on a one-out double and moved to third on a wild pitch. Elicia D'Orazio drove her in on a single to right, and then scored on a Shaelynn Braxton two-run home run to left center to give Marshall a 3-0 advantage after one.
The Thundering Herd followed in the next frame with another pair of runs. With one out, Rebecca Myslenski singled and Emileigh Cooper was hit by pitch to set up runners on first and second. Morgan Zerkle moved both over on a sacrifice bunt, putting each in position to score on a throwing error and Greene single, respectively, as the Thundering Herd extended its lead to 5-0.
UAB got on the board with its only run of the game in the top of the third. Caitlin Attfield led off the frame with a single, advanced to second on a throwing error and moved to third on a Fallen single. Williamson followed with a ground-rule double to drive her in and cut the deficit to 5-1.
Marshall answered with a run in the home half of the same inning to cap the first game's scoring at 6-1. Katalin Lucas scored the run from second on a Taylor McCord RBI single after drawing a walk and moving up on a fielder's choice.
Goodwin kept the Thundering Herd off the board over the final three innings, but the Blazers were unable to plate a run down the stretch, dropping game one by a score of 6-1.
Game Two Recap: Marshall 5, UAB 2
Marshall took an early lead with three runs in the bottom of game two's opening frame. Three straight leadoff singles from Zerkle, Greene and D'Orazio loaded the bases before the lead runner was forced in on a hit by pitch. An RBI groundout by Raquel Escareno plated the next runner, and a bases-loaded walk issued to Myslenski forced in the third as the Blazers found themselves in an early 3-0 hole.
After a scoreless second inning, UAB posted its first run of the game in the top of the third. The Blazers received a leadoff single from Ashley Johnson and a walk from Rachel Dunsford to put runners on first and second. With two outs in the frame, Fallen singled to right field to drive in Johnson and cut Marshall's lead to 3-1.
The Blazers chipped away another run in the top of the fourth, as Pearson powered a solo home run over the wall in left center to make it a 3-2 game. Johnson made a bid to tie the game with a long fly ball to center, but was robbed on an over-the-wall catch by Zerkle.
Two more runs came across for the Thundering Herd in the bottom of the sixth to set the scoring gap back to three. A Kristina Braxton double and a Myslenski single set up runners on the corners for Cooper, who executed a squeeze play to plate the lead runner. The game's final run came on a Greene RBI single to center, as the Blazers fell in game two, 5-2.
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