The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Heads to Louisiana Tech for Conference Showdown
4/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UAB (16-20, 6-3) vs. Louisiana Tech (19-12, 1-5)
Saturday, April 9 | Ruston, La. | Lady Techster Softball Complex | 2 p.m. (DH)
Sunday, April 10 | Ruston, La. | Lady Techster Softball Complex | 1 p.m.
Watch Live | | UAB Notes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Coming off the program's and head coach Marla Townsend's historic 500th victory, the UAB softball team searches for its fourth consecutive Conference USA series victory as the Blazers travel to Louisiana Tech for a three-game series.
The series begins Saturday with a doubleheader at the Lady Techster Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. The series finale is slated for 1 p.m. CT start Sunday.
Fans unable to attend can follow along with the Blazers via live stats and live streaming at LATechSports.com.
UAB currently sits in second place in the Western Division standings after defeating Southern Miss, Charlotte and Marshall in its first three conference series to open the season. UAB is looking to win four consecutive C-USA series for the first time since 2013, when the Blazers won seven straight series and the 2013 Conference USA Regular Season Championship.
Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series, 4-3, but the Blazers have won the last two meetings against the Lady Techsters.
Senior Caitlin Attfield has notched a seven-game hit streak with multiple hits in six of the seven contests to raise her average to a team-leading .397, seventh-highest in the conference. The Senior Class Award finalist also leads UAB in on-base percentage (.451), runs scored (23) and hits (48).
Attfield has recorded just three strikeouts in 121 at-bats to lead the conference and rank 23rd in the nation as the toughest player to strike out.
Seniors Ashley Johnson and Sara Beth Williamson are tied for the team lead in RBIs, as both sluggers have driven in 18. Johnson is also riding a seven-game hit streak and has driven in 10 RBIs over the streak's span.
Reigning C-USA Co-Pitcher of the Week, Cara Goodwin leads UAB in the circle with a 3.47 ERA over 109 innings. The Cullman, Alabama, native has tossed eight complete games and one shutout, while striking out a team-leading 90 batters.
In Conference USA play, the Blazers hold the second-best team ERA with a 1.78 mark, while three of UAB's four pitchers rank in the top 10 with lowest individual ERA numbers.
Louisiana Tech enters the weekend after dropping a midweek, nonconference matchup with Louisiana Monroe, 3-2. The Lady Techsters hold a 1-5 record in C-USA action with their lone win coming against league leader No. 23 Florida Atlantic.
Anna Cross leads the Lady Techsters with a .409 average, sixth-highest in the league, with team-high numbers in runs (35), hits (38), home runs (11) and RBIs (11). Cross also slugs at an .871 mark to lead all of Conference USA.
Bailey Allen tops Louisiana Tech's pitching staff with a 2.81 ERA over 72.1 innings of work. Allen has tossed three complete games and one complete-game shutout, while combining for three, and has struck out 55 batters.
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).
