The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UTSA
UAB Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader with UTSA
4/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Final Stats | Game One Box (PDF) | Game Two Box (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB softball team opened its final home conference series of the season with a 4-1 victory over UTSA, but the Roadrunners battled in game two to split Saturday’s doubleheader at Mary Bowers Field.
The Blazers (23-27, 13-7) plated three, two-out RBIs to top UTSA, 4-1, in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The Roadrunners (19-29, 10-10) answered as Lizzy Foxed shut out UAB over seven inning to take game two, 2-0, to even the series.
“Our pitching staff pitched well enough to win the ball game,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “We have to manufacture runs and take advantage at the plate when we have runners. We’ll get back at it tomorrow with a chance to win the series.”
Junior Mary Warren led UAB at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Senior Caitlin Atffield also knocked three hits in the contest with one double and one run scored in five trips to plate.
Junior Amy Waters only had one hit in Saturday’s doubleheader, but her clutch two-out double drove in two RBIs in UAB’s 4-1 victory to open the series.
UAB’s pitching staff combined for a 1.50 team ERA over Saturday’s contests. Junior Cara Goodwin earned the Blazer victory after tossing a complete game, allowing one run off four hits with two strikeouts.
Game One (W, 4-1)
Attfield led off the first inning for the Blazers with a bunt single down the third base line. After junior JoJo Fallen drew a walk, senior Sara Beth Williamson moved both Blazers into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Warren plated Attfield on a sacrifice fly to center field, giving UAB a first-inning lead.
The designated player knocked her first hit on the contest in the bottom of the fourth as Warren singled down the left field line. Senior Ashley Johnson executed a sacrifice bunt and reached safely as UTSA attempted to throw out pinch runner Lizzie Ryan advancing to second.
Senior Kelly Britt advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Waters doubled to right field to clear the bases. Junior Danii Fernandez sent a double down the left field line to score Waters and extend UAB’s lead to 4-0.
Goodwin kept UTSA off the board through five inning before the Roadrunners loaded the bases in the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles and a one-out walk. After an 11-pitch at-bat, Goodwin issued a bases-loaded walk, allowing UTSA to score.
Fernandez turned UAB’s 21st double play of the season to retire the side and limit the damage to one run. Goodwin retired in the side in order in the seventh inning to earn the Blazer victory.
Goodwin tossed 7.0 innings and allowed one run off four hits and three walks, while striking out two. The junior improved her season record to 13-8.
Game Two (L, 2-0)
Randee Crawford led off the first inning for UTSA with a one-out single to left field. After a two-out walk, the Roadrunners took a 1-0 lead after Kendall Burton singled up the middle.
Burton knocked her second single of the game to lead off the top of the fourth inning for UTSA and advanced into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt from Jade Smith.
Alyssa Cumming, in a pinch-hit appearance, knocked a two-out single to centerfield to extend the Roadrunner lead to 2-0.
The Blazers knocked five hits in the contests, led by Warren’s 2-for-3 outing; but UTSA pitcher Lizzy Fox stranded six Blazers throughout the game to keep UAB off the board.
Junior Madison Hir was tagged with the loss as she allowed two runs off five hits and two walks over 5.0 innings. The West Palm Beach, Florida, native struck out two in the contest as her record fell to 6-9.
Freshman Tori Perkins continued to be lights out as a reliever, tossing 2.0 inning of hitless relief. Perkins allowed just one walk and struck out two.
Sunday’s rubber match is slated for 1 p.m. CT on the American Sports Network as the Blazers search for their sixth Conference USA series win of the season. Following Sunday’s contest, a special Senior Day recognition will be held for the Blazers’ graduating quartet.
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).
