The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Jacksonville State
UAB Softball Slugs Past Jacksonville State
3/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The UAB softball team knocked just three hits in Wednesday’s contest at Jacksonville State, but two home runs were all the Blazers needed as UAB topped the Gamecocks, 3-0, at University Field.
“Every time we get together with Jacksonville State, you know it’s going to be a great game,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “That’s what we saw today. I’m proud of Cara [Goodwin] for shutting out a quality-hitting team. We kept it simple. We did the little things. We had a two-out RBI. We gave up no freebies. These are the little things that we have been working so hard to master. It showed up today. I’m proud of the team and looking forward to going into conference play this weekend.”
UAB (8-16) and the Gamecocks (9-13) traded a scoreless first inning before the Blazers struck in the top of the second as senior Kelly Britt knocked her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left center field, giving UAB a 1-0 lead.
Caitlin Attfield extended her reached-base streak to eight games in the top of the third as the senior advanced to second after an error by Jacksonville State shortstop Taylor Sloan. Junior JoJo Fallen knocked the second UAB home run of the game with a two-run drive down the left field line, extending UAB’s lead to 3-0.
Junior Cara Goodwin and JSU’s Whitney Gillespie locked down in a pitching duel over the final five innings as the two allowed no runs and scattered a combined six hits.
Goodwin tossed her sixth complete game of the season as she shut out the Gamecocks over seven innings. The Cullman, Alabama, native allowed five hits and racked up seven strikeouts. Leading UAB to its first shutout victory of the season, the junior improved her record to 6-3.
UAB opens Conference USA action this weekend as the Blazers travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to face Southern Miss. The Blazers open the three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.
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).
