The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Hofstra
UAB Softball Splits Friday's Unconquered Invitational Doubleheader
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Bradley Box Score | Hofstra Box Score
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The UAB softball team gave up a 4-0 lead as the Blazers fell to Bradley before topping Hofstra in run-rule fashion Friday to open the Unconquered Tournament at JoAnne Graf Field.
The Blazer (4-9) pitching staff shut out Bradley (4-7) over five innings before the Braves plated nine runs in the sixth inning to overtake UAB 9-4.
UAB’s offense came to life against Hofstra (6-5) as the Blazers topped the Pride, 10-2, in six innings.
“Today’s games showed that, in the game of softball, if you take advantage of your opponent’s mistakes, there’s a good chance things are going to turn out your way,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “We definitely took advantage of free bases earlier in the game to put up eight runs in the first inning against Hofstra. I was proud of the team for answering back after allowing nine runs in the sixth in game one.”
Junior JoJo Fallen led the Blazers at the plate going 3-for-6 over two games, scoring two runs and driving in three RBIs. Senior Caitlin Attfield went 2-for-6 with a double while scoring two runs and driving in three RBIs, the first of the season for the shortstop.
Junior Madison Hir earned the victory over Hofstra in game two. The Blazer pitching staff struck out nine batters while allowing just three walks over Friday’s game.
“Softball is a sport where you are going to play a couple of games in one day,” Townsend added. “If you are able to make that transition, things can change just as fast as a snap. I’m proud of the way we answered back. We are young and are struggling to find our identity, but I am proud of our girls’ taking advantage of opportunities in the second game and coming through big-time.”
Game One | Bradley (L, 9-4)
UAB capitalized on back-to-back Bradley errors to lead off the bottom of the first with two runners in scoring position. Fallen placed a fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt down the first base line for the squeeze play to score Attfield.
Senior Sara Beth Williamson followed by knocking a bases-clearing double to drive home two more runs and extend the Blazer lead to 3-0.
UAB loaded the bases in the bottom of the third with one out with back-to-back singles from Fallen and Williamson and a hit by pitch, but the Bradley defense recorded back-to-back outs to keep the Blazers from extending the team.
Junior Cara Goodwin did not allow a Brave to reach again until the top of the fourth after a leadoff error and double put two runners in scoring position with no outs. The Blazer defense responded by retiring the side to preserve the shut-out.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, UAB placed runners on the corners after freshman Lizzie Ryan drew a walk and senior Ashley Johnson knocked a single to shallow right. Ryan scored her first collegiate run after stealing home to push the Blazer lead to 4-0.
Bradley broke out Goodwin’s shut-out in the top of the sixth after a one-out, three-RBI home run by designated player Rachel Huggins to slice the UAB lead to 4-3. With the bases loaded, the Braves knocked four consecutive hits to the Blazer outfield to score six runs and take their first lead of the game 9-4.
Goodwin earned the start allowing five runs and seven hits over 5.1 innings pitched. The junior issued no walks and struck out five Braves. Sophomore Megan Smith (1-5) earned the loss after giving up three unearned runs and two hits over 0.1 innings pitched. Freshman Tori Perkins pitched the final 1.1 innings allowing one run and two hits with one strikeout.
Jaelen Hull (1-3) pitched the complete-game victory allowing four runs and four walks over seven innings and striking out five Blazers.
Williamson led the Blazer offense going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Fallen continued her hot streak at the plate with a 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Game Two | Hofstra (12-4)
The Blazers loaded the bases with two outs to lead off the top of the first inning. Junior Lauren Beshel drew the bases-loaded walk to score the first Blazer run of the inning. Freshman Analyse Petree reached on a fielder’s choice, while a Hofstra fielding error allowed two runs to score.
A wild pitch from Hofstra’s Madison Grimm scored the fourth Blazer run of the first inning, followed by Ryan’s drawing a walk to load the bases once more for UAB. Attfield plated her first RBIs of the season with a single to left field scoring two more UAB runs to push the lead to 6-0.
Fallen followed with a single to right field to pick up two RBIs of her own to give the Blazers an 8-0 lead through the top half of the first inning.
Hofstra answered in the bottom of the first with a two-RBI home run from Brittany Allocca to cut the UAB lead to 8-2.
After a scoreless second inning, freshman Hannah Lee led off the third with a single up the middle. After moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan, Attfield doubled to left center to score Lee and pick up her third RBI of the game, pushing UAB’s lead to 9-2.
Petree drove home her first collegiate RBI in the top of the fourth with a two-out, RBI-single to center field to score senior Kelly Britt, who led off the inning with a double to left center field, giving the Blazers a 10-2 lead.
The Pride answered in the bottom of the fourth scoring two runs off four hits and a wild pitch to cut the Blazer lead to 10-4.
Redshirt sophomore Olivia Black knocked her first hit of the season with a two-RBI double in a pinch hit appearance in the sixth inning to put the Blazer on top by eight, 12-4.
The Blazers continue the Unconquered Invitational on Saturday against No. 13/15 Florida State at 1:30 p.m. CT in the final game in pool play competition.
Hir moves to 2-3 on the season after pitching four innings allowing six hits, four runs and one walk while striking out two. Perkins closed the game with two innings of relief allowing just two hits and one walk and striking out one.
Attfield led the Blazers with a 2-for-3 outing with a team-high three RBIs and one run scored. Fallen and Black each plated two RBIs on their lone hits of the game.
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).
