The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Belmont
UAB Softball Splits Day Two of Sand Dollar Classic
2/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Belmont Box Score (PDF) | Central Arkansas Box Score (PDF)
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The UAB softball team split doubleheader action on the second day of the NCAA Sand Dollar Classic, defeating Belmont 5-4 before falling to Central Arkansas 3-0 Saturday at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
“It’s the little things. I’m proud of Maddie Hir for pitching an outstanding game, and Tori Perkins for earning the save,” said head coach Marla Townsend. “That was key.”
The Blazers (1-3) fended off a comeback attempt from the Belmont (0-2) to secure the Blazers’ 5-4 victory, the first of the season for UAB.
UAB brought the tying run to the plate, but could not mount a comeback of their own in Saturday’s second game falling 3-0 to Central Arkansas (3-0).
Junior JoJo Fallen led the Blazers batting .667 with four hits, two runs and one RBI over Saturday’s action. Senior Sara Beth Williamson closed Saturday 3-for-6 with one run and three RBIs.
Junior Madison Hir earned her first victory of the season leading the Blazers over Belmont, while freshman Tori Perkins earned her first collegiate save preserving the win for UAB.
“At the plate, we struck out only three times, while our pitchers struck out 14 batters,” Townsend added. “There are good things that are happening, but we had three base-running mistakes that cost us. We are going to get out here early in the morning to face another opponent and our goal is to win. Our win today was huge, but we have to find a way to manufacture runs.”
Game One | UAB vs. Belmont | W, 5-4
The Blazer offense return to form against Belmont. Senior Caitlin Attfield led things off for the Blazers with a walk and was driven home by a double to center from Fallen. Fallen came around to score off a single to right field from sophomore Madison Millsaps.
UAB held its 2-0 advantage until the fourth inning when Belmont pushed a runner across with a bases-loaded, two-out walk. Junior Madison Hir responded with a strikeout for the third out to keep the Blazers in the lead.
UAB opened its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Williamson knocked her first hit of the season – a three-run home run – with two outs to push the UAB lead to 5-1.
Belmont mounted a comeback attempt scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Perkins pitched the final two outs to secure the UAB victory and record her first collegiate save.
Fallen closed game one 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Williamson finished 1-for-3 at the plate, but drove home three RBIs off her first home run of 2016.
Hir (1-1) earned the win after four innings of work. The junior allowed one hit, two walks and one unearned run, while striking out one Bruin.
Junior Cara Goodwin pitch 2.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs off four hits and striking out two. Perkins earned the save after retiring both Bruin batters face.
Game Two | UAB vs. Central Arkansas | L, 3-0
Central Arkansas and UAB were knotted in a pitching duel early as sophomore Megan Smith and UCA’s Kayla Gomness dealt three shutout innings before the Bears scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the third.
The Bears plated a third run off a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 3-0, but the Blazers would not go down without a fight.
Freshman Hannah Lee knocked a pitch-hit single to lead off the seventh inning. Junior Lauren Beshel knocked a single through the right side in a two-out, pinch-hit appearance to bring the tying run to the plate, but Central Arkansas held on for the victory.
Smith (0-2) was tagged with the loss after pitching 4.1 innings, allowing five hits, three runs and striking out six. Goodwin dealt 2.1 innings of relief, no hitting the Bears while striking out five.
Fallen and Williamson led UAB offensively as both Blazers finished 2-for-3.
UAB plays its final game of the NCAA Sand Dollar Classic Sunday at 9 a.m. CT against Ball State.
For more information on the UAB softball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UABSoftball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
