The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Marshall
Four Home Runs Power UAB Softball Past Marshall, 5-2
5/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Final Stats | Box Score (PDF)
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- Sara Beth Williamson tallied a pair of home runs and Amy Dennis and Heather Pearson each slugged a solo home run to lift the UAB softball team to a 5-2 win over the Marshall Thundering Herd on Sunday at Dot Hicks Field.
Trailing 2-0 entering the third inning, the Blazers got a one-out double from Dennis before Williamson knotted the game up at two apiece with a two-run shot to right center. After the next batter was retired, Pearson followed with a two-out home run to left center to give the Blazers a 3-2 lead.
Williamson recorded her second home run of the game with a solo homer to straightaway center in the top of the fifth. Dennis drove her solo shot to the same location in the top of the seventh to cap off the 5-2 UAB win.
"When we came out today, we knew we would be facing a tough Marshall team and that the game was going to be competitive," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "I'm so proud of our pitchers, who did a great job of holding them to two runs. Cara Goodwin really came through with five strikeouts in the final three innings."
With Sunday's result, UAB (31-18, 15-7 C-USA) closed the regular season with 15 conference wins or more for the sixth consecutive season. The Blazers' total of four home runs on Sunday was its second-highest total of the season behind their tally of five against Harvard on Feb. 21 in Madeira Beach, Fla.
Madison Hir (5-4) earned the win after holding the Thundering Herd to a pair of runs on five hits and five walks with a strikeout in four innings pitched. Goodwin picked up her second save of the season after striking out five with a hit and walk allowed in three shutout innings.
Williamson's home runs were her 10th and 11th of the season, as she moved into a tie for the sixth-most home runs in a single season in school history. Dennis finished 3-for-4 and a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
Marshall scored both of its runs in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded after a pair of singles and a walk, the game's first run crossed home plate as all three runners moved up on a wild pitch. The Thundering Herd's Shaelynn Braxton followed with a single to left center to plate the runner from third and account for the Herd's second run of the matchup.
The Thundering Herd threatened with runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the fourth. On an Emileigh Cooper single to center, Center fielder Anna Theriot fielded and threw home in time to cut down the runner breaking for the plate. Catcher Ashley Johnson turned and threw to Danii Fernandez at third on the play, who applied the tag to the baserunner to end the inning on a double play.
Goodwin entered in the following frame and held Marshall off the board for the remainder of the matchup to seal the win in the Blazers' regular season finale.
The UAB softball team returns to action on Thursday for the opening round of the Conference USA Championship in Miami, Fla. 
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.
