The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Charlotte
UAB Softball Splits Conference Doubleheader with Charlotte
3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box (PDF) | Game Two Box (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After falling to the 49ers in extra innings to open the conference series, the UAB softball team downed Charlotte in run-rule fashion to even the series and split Friday's doubleheader at Mary Bowers Field.
UAB (11-19, 3-2) opened the three-game series against Charlotte (18-13, 2-6) with its first extra-inning game of the season. The 49ers pushed two runs across in the eighth inning to cap a 3-1 victory.
The Blazers evened the series with an eight-run fifth inning to cruise to a 9-1 run-rule victory over the 49ers and secured UAB's first victory at Bowers Field.
"What a great walk-off hit by Ashley Johnson," head coach Marla Townsend said after the victory. "It is the first win on Mary Bowers Field, and that is special to me because of what Mary and Keith Bowers mean not only to me but to the softball program. I told the team we were one hit away from getting a streak started, and we obviously came through with a big fifth inning. Madison Hir pitched a great game. I'm proud of her for coming out to get a huge victory today."
Senior Ashley Johnson led the Blazers at the plate going 2-for-4 over the doubleheader with two RBIs and two runs scored. Junior Mary Warren racked up three hits, including her fourth home run of the season.
A junior, Hir earned her third victory in the circle as she pitched the five-inning complete game against the 49ers.
Game One (L, 3-1)
Sophomore Megan Smith and Charlotte's Lexi Betancourt were locked in a pitcher's duel early as the two tossed four shutout innings before the Blazers broke through in the bottom of the fifth.
Senior Kelly Britt singled to left center and moved into scoring position off a sacrifice bunt from Johnson. Junior Amy Waters followed with a single to center field, while an error on Kiersten Berrier, the 49ers' center fielder, allowed Britt to score, giving UAB a 1-0 lead.
The 49ers answered in the top of the sixth, getting on base with a leadoff single followed with a hit by pitch. After moving the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, Bailey Rhoney drove a sacrifice fly to center field to lock the game up at 1-1 to take UAB to extra innings for the first time this season.
Charlotte capitalized with a leadoff single and back-to-back one-out doubles in the top of the eighth to plate two runs and top UAB in extras, 3-1.
Smith pitched five innings in her ninth start of the season, as she allowed one run off seven hits. The Pisgah, Alabama, native struck out five batters and did not allow a single walk.
Junior Cara Goodwin was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs off four hits in her two innings of work. The right-hander picked up two strikeouts in the relief appearance and moved to 6-6 on the season.
Game Two (W, 9-1)
Charlotte jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with back-to-back one-out hits, including a triple from Haley Pace.
The Blazers locked the game back up in the bottom of the third as Johnson singled to right field and advanced to third on a fielding error by the 49ers. The catcher scored on Danii Fernandez's fielder's choice.
Freshman Analyse Petree led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to right center as Johnson followed with a walk. Both Blazers moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Fernandez.
Senior Caitlin Attfield singled to shallow right field to score Petree, giving UAB a 2-1 lead. Junior JoJo Fallen reached on the second Charlotte error of the game, allowing Johnson to score.
Senior Sara Beth Williamson and junior Mary Warren followed with back-to-back home runs, including a three-RBI shot to right field from Williamson to push the UAB lead to 7-1.
After Britt drew a walk, sophomore Madison Millsaps singled to left center before Petree, in her second appearance of the inning, loaded the bases with a walk. Johnson delivered the walk-off double to score two, capping the 9-1 run-rule victory.
Hir pitched the complete to improve to 3-5 on the season. The junior allowed one run off four hits and issued just one walk, while striking out five in the outing.
The rubber match between the Blazers and the 49ers is set for Saturday at 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).
