The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Southern Miss
Blazers Blank Southern Miss; Advance to Semifinals
5/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (PDF)
DENTON, Texas - Behind junior Cara Goodwin's two-hit shutout, the No. 2 UAB softball team blanked No. 3 Southern Miss, 3-0, in Thursday's Conference USA Championship quarterfinals at Lovelace Stadium.
"This is truly one of the proudest moments of the season," head coach Marla Townsend said. "It goes back to the way our team came out in the first inning, coming through with a big hit to score a run. Our dugout was into every single pitch of the game. Cara pitched a great game and held a good swinging team to two hits. She fought hard and was spinning the ball solid. I'm looking forward to facing one of the top teams in the country tomorrow."
UAB advances to Friday's semifinals with a matchup against No. 1 Florida Atlantic. The Blazers did not meet up with the nationally ranked Owls during the regular season. Friday's first pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT.
Sophomore Rachel Dunsford led UAB at the plate going 3-for-3, with her second home run of the season, with one RBI.
Goodwin pitched the complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits over seven innings. The junior issued five walks, but struck out four batters as she improved her season record to 16-10. Goodwin is now tied for the fourth-most wins in a single season.
UAB jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a string of three consecutive one-out singles from senior Caitlin Attfield and juniors JoJo Fallen and Mary Warren.
The Blazers extended the lead in the bottom of third as senior Ashley Johnson plated her 18th two-out RBI of the season with a double down the left field line to score Lizzie Ryan after the freshman drew a two-out walk.
Dunsford capped off her 3-for-3 day at the plate with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, pushing UAB's lead to 3-0.
Goodwin allowed just her second hit of the contest in the top of the seventh, but the Blazer defense retired the side to cap the quarterfinal victory.
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).
