The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
(RV) Florida International
UAB Softball Sweeps Saturday To Clinch Series Over FIU
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After mounting a come-from-behind win in extra innings, the UAB softball team knocked off (RV) Florida International in run-rule fashion to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader at Mary Bowers Field and clinch the Conference USA series win.
“We were relentless at the plate scoring four runs in the first inning with two outs in game two,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “I loved the way we came out and competed today. We had excellent defense behind our pitching staff to help us out of a couple jams. I’m proud of the way we kept battling every inning. It was a good win for the Blazer family.”
After five scoreless innings, Florida International (22-23, 7-10 C-USA) broke through in game one with a 1-0 lead; but the Blazers forced eight innings and notched their first extra-inning win of the season, 3-1.
UAB (19-23, 9-5 C-USA) plated five runs in the first inning of Saturday’s second game before a clutch two-out single from junior Mary Warren secured the walk-off, run-rule victory in five innings, 9-1.
Going 3-for-3 in game two, freshman Hannah Lee led UAB at the plate with a 4-for-6 on Saturday, including knocking her first collegiate home run. Lee knocked a total of two extra-base hits and drove in three RBIs.
“Hannah Lee does that every day in practice,” Townsend added. “For her to come out and get her first collegiate home run in this setting was huge. She is an excellent hitter. I am very proud of the way she was seeing the ball today.”
Senior Ashley Johnson and Warren, who extended her reached-base streak to 18 consecutive games, also plated three RBIs as both Blazers knocked one home run. UAB has homered at least once in seven straight Conference USA contests.
Junior Cara Goodwin picked up both victories for the Blazers as she held FIU to just one run over a combined 7.0 innings of work.
GAME ONE (W, 3-1)
Starting pitchers Megan Smith and Megan Kugelmann battled through four scoreless innings and held their respective opponents to just one run, but neither factored into the decision despite their impressive starts.
UAB was poised to take the lead in the bottom of the third as a walk to junior Amy Waters, infield bunt single by junior Danii Fernandez and a walk issued to senior Caitlin Attfield loaded the bases with no outs.
Junior JoJo Fallen drove a fly ball to right field, allowing Waters to tag up to score; but Waters was called out for leaving early, erasing the Blazers’ lead.
Ashley Leon knocked a one-out infield single to the top of the fifth before the Panthers followed with back-to-back, two-out singles to manufacture a 1-0 lead.
UAB answered in the bottom of the sixth as C-USA Player of the Week Warren drove a solo home run to left center, locking the game at 1-1.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Warren drew a walk. With pinch runner Lizzie Ryan on base, Johnson secured the walk-off victory with a home run to center field as UAB won, 3-2, in extra innings.
Smith pitched six innings allowing just one run off five hits, four walks and one strikeout. Goodwin earned the victory as she pitched two hitless innings of relief.
GAME TWO (W, 9-1)
FIU struck first in game two with a two-out solo home run from Stephanie Texeira, but the Blazers quickly responded in the bottom of the first to erase the Panther lead.
After Attfield drew a walk to lead off for the Blazers, Fallen moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Starting pitcher Corinne Jenkins issued her second walk of the inning to Sara Beth Williamson before UAB began a two-out rally.
Johnson started off the rally with a two-out single to right field to score Attfield and tie the game. Senior Kelly Britt singled to left center to send Williamson home and put UAB up, 2-1.
Lee continued the rally with a three-run home run, the first in the freshman’s career, to send the score to 5-1 in UAB’s favor.
The Blazers added an additional run in the bottom of the second as Fallen and Williamson traded back-to-back doubles, extending the lead to 6-1.
After two scoreless innings, Lee knocked her third hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth to lead off for UAB. Fernandez singled to right center before Attfield reached on a fielder’s choice as all Blazers advanced safely to load the bases.
Fallen picked up an RBI on a groundout to shortstop to put UAB up, 7-1. Williamson loaded the bases back up with a hit by pitch before Warren capped the victory in run-rule style with a two-RBI single to left field.
Goodwin tossed the complete game allowing one run off four hits and five walks over five innings of work. The junior and the Blazer defense stranded eight Panthers in the outing. With her two victories, Goodwin improved to 10-7 on the season.
UAB searches for its first series sweep of the season as the series finale against the Panthers is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday. Sunday’s contest is designated as the Blazers’ annual “Cancer Awareness 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).
