The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Southern Illinois
UAB Drops Two on First Day of EMU Spring Invitational
2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The UAB softball team dropped two games on the first day of the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational. The Blazers fell to Southern Illinois, 3-4, in eight innings and Michigan State, 3-1.
“Overall the ladies executed much better today and played better softball, but anytime you leave seven runners in the first game and nine runners in the second game on base it’s hard to come out on top,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “The knowledge is there and the hustle is there, but we have to find our self-confidence to be successful. I am proud of the class these ladies have shown on the field and love their relentlessness. We expect great things to happen.”
UAB 3, SIU 4
Southern Illinois (4-3, 0-0) got the early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Susie Baranski singled to left field and brought Shaye Harre around to score.
The next Salukis run came in the fourth inning off a Merri Anne Patterson single and then added another in the sixth when Baranski scored on a wild pitch.
UAB (0-5, 0-0) scored its first run in the third inning when Joanna Fallen singled up the middle to bring around Danii Fernandez who was on second after hitting a standup double.
The Blazers got things heated up in the seventh inning and scored two more runs forcing the game into extra innings. Fallen hit another single to second base and scored Tori Perkins and Katlyn Sides to tie the game at three.
Southern Illinois scored the final run of the game in the eighth inning to clinch the Salukis victory when Baranski hit a sacrifice fly to center field and plated Jessa Thomas.
Madison Hir (0-1) took the loss for UAB. She came in relief of Claire Blount and pitched 4.1 innings. She gave up two runs and tallied three strikeouts.
Brianna Jones (2-1) got the win for the Saulkis in the circle. She pitched eight innings, racked up eight strikeouts and only gave up three runs.
UAB 1, MSU 3
The Blazers struck hard and fast in the nightcap against Michigan State (5-1, 0-0) on the first day of the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational.
Madison Millsaps hammered a ball to dead center field for a standup double and pushed Destini England, who had reached on an error, to third in the first inning. A wild pitch from the Michigan State pitcher scored UAB’s only run of the night.
The Spartans didn’t get on the board until the bottom of the fifth inning when Lea Foerster towered a home run ball over the right field wall to claim a 3-1 lead, which would end up being the final score.
Cara Goodwin (0-2) suffered the loss in the circle for the Blazers. She pitched four innings, recorded three strikeouts and gave up three runs.
Bridgette Rainey (3-1) captured the win for the Spartans. She tossed a complete game and only gave up one run and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts.
The Blazers return to Madeira Beach City Hall Complex Saturday to face Siena and Boston at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.
For more information on UAB Athletics, visit UABsports.com. Fans can find UAB softball on Twitter and Instagram at @UAB_SB.
