UAB Falls to No. 15 Alabama in Tuscaloosa

Tuesday, March 20

Tuscaloosa, AL

6:00 PM

UAB

10-20-1

University of Alabama

20-7

UAB

ALABAMA

UAB Falls to No. 15 Alabama in Tuscaloosa

3/20/2018 10:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – UAB fell to No. 15 Alabama 10-5 Tuesday night at Rhoads Stadium.

The bats were going early for UAB as Analyse Petree lined a double to to left center and scored Destini England, who reached on an error, from second. Petree advanced to third on a wild pitch but was unable to score and the Blazers took a 1-0 lead after the UAB half of the first inning.

Alabama (20-7) used a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the first and put the pressure on UAB starting pitcher Emily Kachel. She responded by getting a pop out in foul territory and then fielded a grounder and threw home to get the force out at the plate.

However, a hit batter and a fielding error allowed two runs to score before Kachel got a strikeout to end the first.

UAB (10-20-1) hit back in the second as Molli Garcia singled up the middle to set up the Blazers. Natalie Erwin came to the plate next and doubled down the left field line as Makayla Hayes, pinch running for Garcia, motored all the way around from first to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Katlyen Sides was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for England who hit a single back through the middle of the diamond and sent Erwin racing around for home. Erwin scored and UAB retook the lead 3-2.

Another single from Petree loaded the bases with just one out and forced Alabama to make an early pitching change. The Crimson Tide then used a 5-3 double play to end the UAB threat and get out of the second.

Alabama put four runs on the board in the bottom of the second on five hits, taking a 6-3 lead. It added to its lead with three more runs in the home half of the fourth inning increasing its lead to 9-3. The Tide scored once more in the sixth taking a 10-3 advantage.

The Blazers fought back scoring twice in the top half of the seventh off two hits and an Alabama throwing error. However, it wasn't enough as a groundout ended the game and UAB fell 10-5.

Kachel threw 2.2 innings allowing six runs on seven hits, just four earned runs. She struck out two and walked two while suffering the loss and falling to 8-8 on the year. Megan Smith also saw action in the circle after starting the game at third base and tossed 1.1 innings. Smith gave up three runs on three hits but recorded three strikeouts. Claire Blount threw two innings against Alabama and allowed one run off one hit and walked one batter.

Up Next

UAB will get the weekend off before returning home for a five game home stand starting on March 27 against Alabama A&M. The Blazers will host Jacksonville State on March 28 and will square off with C-USA foe Middle Tennessee on March 30 and 31.