The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Prepares for Tennessee Invitational
3/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tennessee Invitational | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium | Knoxville, Tenn.
UAB (5-12) vs. St. John's (5-6) | Friday, March 4 - 9 a.m. CT
UAB (5-12) at #16/20 Tennessee (11-5) | Friday, March 4 - 2 p.m. CT | SEC Network+
UAB (5-12) vs. Green Bay (4-6) | Saturday, March 5 - 9 a.m. CT
UAB (5-12) vs. TBA | Saturday, March 5 - TBA
UAB (5-12) vs. TBA | Sunday, March 6 - TBA
Game Notes: UAB
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team competes in its final tournament of the 2016 regular season as the Blazers travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to compete in the Tennessee Invitational hosted by No. 16/20 Tennessee at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
UAB begins the tournament Friday with a two-game slate beginning at 9 a.m. CT against St. John's. UAB takes on the host Volunteers on the SEC Network+ at 2 p.m. CT.
Saturday, the action begins at 9 a.m. CT when the Blazers face Green Bay. The Blazers' final two games of the tournament will be determined based on seeding following the conclusion of Friday's and Saturday morning's pool play competition.
UAB is coming off a 6-1 midweek loss at crosstown rival Samford, snapping a nine-game win streak over the Bulldogs. The Blazers are 7-9 this season over the first three tournaments on the schedule.
The Blazers are led by junior JoJo Fallen's .426 average. The left fielder has driven in seven RBIs off 20 hits and has scored nine runs. The Prattville, Alabama, native leads UAB in five categories and ranks ninth in the conference in batting average (.426) and 11th in on-base percentage (.471) and is tied for 10th in hits (20).
In the circle, the UAB pitching staff is anchored by junior Cara Goodwin and her team-leading 5.33 ERA over 46.0 innings. Boasting a 3-1 record, the Cullman, Alabama, native has tossed two complete games and has struck out 32 batters while allowing just 23 walks, while opponents hit a team-low .267 against her.
Coming off the Big East regular season and tournament championship, St. John's has opened the season 5-6 and enters the weekend after a 2-2 showing at Auburn's Tiger Invitational. Krystal Puga has been the leader offensively, hitting at a .441 clip with a team-leading three home runs and 12 RBIs. Junior Grace Kramer has been the Red Storm's top pitcher, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA.
Tennessee is coming off a 3-1 win over Dayton on Monday for the Volunteers' 16th straight victory in home openers. The Volunteers are led by Brooke Vines, who is batting a team-high .412. Vines has scored 13 runs and has driven in eight RBIs on 21 hits.
In the circle, Matty Moss leads Tennessee with a 1.58 ERA over 26.2 innings pitched. Moss holds a 1.3 record and has tossed one shutout this season while striking out 14. Erin Gabriel anchors the pitching staff with a 7-2 record. Gabriel holds a 2.40 ERA over 49.2 innings and has struck out a team-high 70 batters.
The Blazers are facing Tennessee for the first time since 2012, when UAB fell to the Volunteers 8-0 at the Knoxville Regional.
The Phoenix recorded a 2-3 weekend at the Total Control Invitational in Rosemount, Illinois, last weekend to move its overall record to 4-6. Green Bay has three players batting over .400 and is led by Acacia Tupa's .444 clip. Bailey Smaney leads the Phoenix's pitching staff with a 4.80 ERA and a 3-2 record.
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).
