The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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(RV) Mississippi State
UAB Softball Upsets (RV) Mississippi State, 3-2
3/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The UAB softball team scored three runs in the first inning to edge out (RV) Mississippi State, 3-2, Tuesday night at Nusz Park.
“To get a midweek win against a top program means a lot,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “We came out strong from the first at-bat. I am proud of the way we played strong from the very first inning. Our batters were relentless in late innings. We had great, quality at-bats and battled at the plate.”
The victory was the first against an opponent either ranked or receiving votes in national polls and the first against an SEC opponent in the Blazers’ SEC-heavy nonconference schedule.
Senior Caitlin Attfield (2-for-3) and junior JoJo Fallen led UAB at the plate with their two-hit performances. Senior Ashley Johnson delivered a two-RBI single in the first inning to cap the Blazer offense.
Sophomore Megan Smith improved to 3-7 on the season after allowing just two runs off six hits in 4.2 innings of work. The Pisgah, Alabama, native struck out two and issued two walks.
Junior Cara Goodwin pitched 2.1 innings of hitless relief and allowed just one walk, while striking out two.
“Megan Smith did a great job keeping an outstanding hitting team in check,” Townsend added. “Our defense got behind her and made outstanding plays, and that gets you fired up as a pitcher. Cara did a great job mixing it up. Despite falling behind, she came through strong on some movement pitches.”
Attfield singled the first pitch of the game up the middle and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts. Junior Mary Warren and senior Kelly Britt drew consecutive walks to load the bases for the Blazers.
During Johnson’s at-bat, Attfield scored on a wild pitch from Mississippi State starter Alexis Silkwood before Johnson delivered a two-RBI double to left center to put the Blazers on top, 3-0.
The Blazers loaded the bases again in the second inning after a Bulldog throwing error and back-to-back singles from Attfield and Fallen, but Mississippi State turned an inning-ending double play to quiet the UAB scoring chance.
Smith shut out Mississippi State over four innings before the Bulldogs got on the board. After getting two runners on with a walk and single to center field, Caroline Seitz delivered a two-out single to right center field to cut the UAB lead to 3-1.
The Bulldogs scored their second run of the bottom of the fifth off a wild pitch from UAB reliever Goodwin.
Goodwin shut out Mississippi State over the final two innings to preserve the Blazer victory.
“It’s what we need going into a huge conference series this weekend with Marshall,” Townsend added. I’m proud of the way we were competitive and the excellence of how we carried ourselves. Coming home with a win will make for a nice trip back to Birmingham.”
The Blazers return to Mary Bowers Field this weekend as UAB welcomes Marshall for a three-game Conference USA series. The series kicks off Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m., with game one airing on Fox Sports Network.
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).
