The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Softball Preview: The Infield
1/18/2018 2:15:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With just under a month until opening day uabsports.com will break down one position group a week leading into the first game of the season against Michigan on Feb. 9 in Tampa, Fla.
This week's group is the infield.
Natalie Erwin | Sophomore
Erwin started 42 games last season for the Blazers and will be a key piece for UAB in the middle of the infield in 2018. She was a force last season in the infield with a .941 fielding percentage and was second on the team in assists recording 92. Erwin hit .217 with 12 runs scored and 17 RBI. The Ridgeland, Miss. native was 9-for-9 last season in stolen bases.
"Natalie is very agile and aggressive andl will be key up the middle," head coach Amanda Ellis said. "She had an incredible fall at the plate and we are expecting her to be a performance player, not only in the infield but also at the plate. She will also be fun to watch on the base paths as well."
Analyse Petree | Junior
Entering her junior season, Petree is the returning hits leader for UAB as she tallied 37 hits in 2017. She will again be counted on to provide the big hit in key situations. Last season, the Apopka, Fla. native hit .259 with five homers, seven doubles and drove in 18 RBI while scoring 17 runs herself.
"Analyse had a very effective fall and got comfortable with her swing," Ellis said. "She is an absolute gamer. She wants to be up at the plate with two outs and the game on the line and she always believes that she'll get the job done. We believe in her too and are excited to see what she does this season."
Rachel Rogers | Senior
Rogers saw action in 45 games last season, starting in 31 of them. She will see even more playing time in 2018. Rogers finished second on the squad in putouts last season with 232 and finished with a .968 fielding percentage. She also drove in 11 RBI, scored 10 runs and led UAB in walks after drawing 21 in her junior season.
"Rachel has worked extremely hard this fall on her swing and getting the fundamentals down," Ellis said. "We got her feeling good about it and combining that with her ability to find ways to get on base, we are looking forward to watching her play this season."
Megan Smith | Senior
While also seeing time in the circle, Smith will also get plenty of action in the field in 2018. She saw time in the field in 12 games last season and could see even more playing time there this year.
"Megan Smith, one of our senior pitchers, has been a surprise infielder this past fall," Ellis said. "Her ability, passion and desire really complements and completes our infield."
Rachel Owens | Freshman
Owens comes to UAB from Anaheim, Calif. where she played for Canyon High School and helped lead her teams to three state semi-final appearances. Owens was named the Century Conference All-League Player of the Year and also won Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.
"Rachel was brought in as a middle infielder," Ellis said. "We have worked her out through the fall at several positions. With her versatility and strong arm, she'll be able to play multiple positions for us."
Ashton Clem | Sophomore
Clem comes into her second season with the Blazers with heightened expectations. The Moody, Ala. native has worked during the fall on improving her approach at the plate and has seen the work pay off.
"She has great hands and is extremely smooth in the field," Ellis said. "We challenged her during the fall and preseason on her hitting and she has responded. She is getting stronger and more confident each day.
Makayla Hayes | Senior
Hayes has transitioned from second to third this offseason and has been thriving.
"She is one of our three senior infielders and we will rely on her experience to bring along some of our younger girls," Ellis said.
Haleigh Sisson | Senior
Another senior infielder, Sisson will see time at first base during the season. Along with Hayes and Rogers, Sisson's experience will be crucial to helping the next wave of Blazers.
"Haleigh has put in a lot of time during the fall and preseason," Ellis said. "She has improved her footwork and side to side movement as well as her hitting and approach at the plate."
Rian Brown | Sophomore
The Springville, Ala. native has turned up her hitting during the fall and is poised to make a major impact in the heart of the lineup.
"Rian has been quite the hitter for us during the fall and thus far in the preseason," Ellis said. "She will most likely be used as the DP this spring, but she will be a big bat to have in the middle of the lineup."
The Infield:
"Overall, our infield has a very solid group of talent. This infield group has depth and with depth comes a competitive drive to see playing time," Ellis said. "The staff and I feel that with our pitching staff we should create some routine ground balls. To be successful, we will have to be almost perfect defensively. We didn't meet our goal last year as our errors category was extremely high. This year, we have challenged our entire team to have a better fielding percentage."
This week's group is the infield.
Natalie Erwin | Sophomore
Erwin started 42 games last season for the Blazers and will be a key piece for UAB in the middle of the infield in 2018. She was a force last season in the infield with a .941 fielding percentage and was second on the team in assists recording 92. Erwin hit .217 with 12 runs scored and 17 RBI. The Ridgeland, Miss. native was 9-for-9 last season in stolen bases.
"Natalie is very agile and aggressive andl will be key up the middle," head coach Amanda Ellis said. "She had an incredible fall at the plate and we are expecting her to be a performance player, not only in the infield but also at the plate. She will also be fun to watch on the base paths as well."
Analyse Petree | Junior
Entering her junior season, Petree is the returning hits leader for UAB as she tallied 37 hits in 2017. She will again be counted on to provide the big hit in key situations. Last season, the Apopka, Fla. native hit .259 with five homers, seven doubles and drove in 18 RBI while scoring 17 runs herself.
"Analyse had a very effective fall and got comfortable with her swing," Ellis said. "She is an absolute gamer. She wants to be up at the plate with two outs and the game on the line and she always believes that she'll get the job done. We believe in her too and are excited to see what she does this season."
Rachel Rogers | Senior
Rogers saw action in 45 games last season, starting in 31 of them. She will see even more playing time in 2018. Rogers finished second on the squad in putouts last season with 232 and finished with a .968 fielding percentage. She also drove in 11 RBI, scored 10 runs and led UAB in walks after drawing 21 in her junior season.
"Rachel has worked extremely hard this fall on her swing and getting the fundamentals down," Ellis said. "We got her feeling good about it and combining that with her ability to find ways to get on base, we are looking forward to watching her play this season."
Megan Smith | Senior
While also seeing time in the circle, Smith will also get plenty of action in the field in 2018. She saw time in the field in 12 games last season and could see even more playing time there this year.
"Megan Smith, one of our senior pitchers, has been a surprise infielder this past fall," Ellis said. "Her ability, passion and desire really complements and completes our infield."
Rachel Owens | Freshman
Owens comes to UAB from Anaheim, Calif. where she played for Canyon High School and helped lead her teams to three state semi-final appearances. Owens was named the Century Conference All-League Player of the Year and also won Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.
"Rachel was brought in as a middle infielder," Ellis said. "We have worked her out through the fall at several positions. With her versatility and strong arm, she'll be able to play multiple positions for us."
Ashton Clem | Sophomore
Clem comes into her second season with the Blazers with heightened expectations. The Moody, Ala. native has worked during the fall on improving her approach at the plate and has seen the work pay off.
"She has great hands and is extremely smooth in the field," Ellis said. "We challenged her during the fall and preseason on her hitting and she has responded. She is getting stronger and more confident each day.
Makayla Hayes | Senior
Hayes has transitioned from second to third this offseason and has been thriving.
"She is one of our three senior infielders and we will rely on her experience to bring along some of our younger girls," Ellis said.
Haleigh Sisson | Senior
Another senior infielder, Sisson will see time at first base during the season. Along with Hayes and Rogers, Sisson's experience will be crucial to helping the next wave of Blazers.
"Haleigh has put in a lot of time during the fall and preseason," Ellis said. "She has improved her footwork and side to side movement as well as her hitting and approach at the plate."
Rian Brown | Sophomore
The Springville, Ala. native has turned up her hitting during the fall and is poised to make a major impact in the heart of the lineup.
"Rian has been quite the hitter for us during the fall and thus far in the preseason," Ellis said. "She will most likely be used as the DP this spring, but she will be a big bat to have in the middle of the lineup."
The Infield:
"Overall, our infield has a very solid group of talent. This infield group has depth and with depth comes a competitive drive to see playing time," Ellis said. "The staff and I feel that with our pitching staff we should create some routine ground balls. To be successful, we will have to be almost perfect defensively. We didn't meet our goal last year as our errors category was extremely high. This year, we have challenged our entire team to have a better fielding percentage."
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