Blazers Back in Win Column After Crosstown Clash

Wednesday, March 13

Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field

6 P.M.

UAB

Samford

Blazers Back in Win Column After Crosstown Clash

3/13/2019 11:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (9-15) got back on track on Wednesday night, snapping an eight-game losing skid with a 6-1 victory in a Birmingham brawl against Samford at Mary Bowers Field. The Blazers gave up a solo shot just over the left-field fence in the first inning, but took the lead in the second inning and never looked back.

"That was the first time we've put a full game together this year. We pitched it well. We did a phenomenal job in the circle. (Emily Kachel) gave up the home run in the first, but settled down and was really good the rest of the way," said coach Jimmy Kolaitis. "Defensively, we made some really good plays out there. Plays that could have opened up big innings, we shut down early. Destini (England) made a great grab in the outfield. Jenna (Olszewski) made another good one out in left. The infield was just solid. That's pure work. Coach Guthrie has done a phenomenal job with the infielders and the defense in general, and it showed tonight. Offensively, we finally put some hits together. We did some small-ball stuff that we executed well, and we got the big hits with runners on base. We did it all through the lineup. We can do that. We have that explosion through the lineup. If we're able to do that and put complete games together, we're going to be ok. I hope this is a turning point for us. We have a tough weekend ahead of us with Louisiana Tech, who's really good and has had a pretty good season. We're going to come out and fight, battle and compete."

Freshman infielder Sierra Frazier led UAB at the plate, going 2-for-3 on the day with two RBI and a run scored on her third home run of the season, which ties for the team lead. Frazier's go ahead, two-run shot to left center gave the Blazers the lead they would maintain throughout the rest of the game. Sophomore pitcher Emily Kachel was a big reason why the UAB would never relinquish its lead, pitching a complete game while only giving up three hits and one run while adding four strikeouts.

Samford took the early lead in the top of the first with a solo shot to left. That would be the only scoring until the bottom of the second though, as the Blazers would roar back. Junior infielder Dylinn Stancil got things going for the Blazers with a leadoff single. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski evened things up by driving in Stancil on a stand-up double. To follow, Frazier cranked a bomb to left center, sending Olszewski home and giving the Blazers a two-run advantage.

Neither side produced at the plate in the third inning, and the Bulldogs failed to produce in the top of the fourth. UAB got going again, starting with a single by Sierra Frazier, one by Ashton Clem and another by England that drove in another run. Natalie Erwin would later fly out to left, but her ball was deep enough for UAB to send in another, taking a comfortable, 5-1 lead.

While Samford remained on its dry spell in the fifth, UAB dealt its knockout blow in the bottom half of the inning, as England drove home Olszewski following a Rachel Owens double.

UAB held a 6-1 lead going into the sixth and refused to let Samford get back in the game, shutting down the Bulldogs the rest of the way. The Blazers added one more hit in the bottom of the sixth, then Kachel retired the side in the top of the seventh to clinch the victory.

UAB will stay at home for its next action as the Blazers prepare to host Louisiana Tech over the weekend for the first conference series at Mary Bowers Field this season. UAB will battle the Bulldogs in a doubleheader on Saturday, then a concluding match on Sunday. First pitch for Saturday is slated for 3 p.m. for game one and 5 p.m. for game two. The series finale is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday.