UAB Slips in Series Finale Against Louisiana Tech

Sunday, March 17

Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field

1 P.M.

UAB

9-18, 0-6

Louisiana Tech

20-7, 3-0

Louisiana Tech

UAB

UAB Slips in Series Finale Against Louisiana Tech

3/17/2019 6:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (9-18) once again led Louisiana Tech (20-7) for the early part of the game on Sunday afternoon, but was unable to hold on for the win, later falling 6-2 at Mary Bowers Field. The Blazers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and maintained that lead until the Lady Techsters exploded for four runs in the top of the fifth. Louisiana Tech also added a pair in the seventh for the final tally.

Freshman infielder Sierra Frazier led the Blazers behind and at the plate, catching for the game and going 2-for-3 with an RBI from the nine hole. UAB pitched by committee in this one, but sophomore Emily Kachel got the start and did the brunt of the work, going four innings and picking up four strikeouts while giving up three runs on two hits.

"The first day, we came out and had a chance to win two games, but we weren't able to hold onto the lead. Those were tough games," said coach Jimmy Kolaitis. "When we play well for the majority of the game and don't finish, we know what we need to do and what we need to work on. With those types of games, you may get one in a season. We had two in a day. I did think we came out today and played well. We played hard. We didn't do everything that we needed to do to win the game, but I thought our effort was really good. Our attitude was good. We just have to go back to the drawing board, continue to work and get ready for FAU. I did see some really good things today and this weekend. I thought our pitchers, for the most part, threw well. We just have to eliminate the big innings. If we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance to win some games in the next few weeks."

The first inning was quiet as UAB freshman outfielder Faith Hegh's single ended up being the only hit for either side in the inning. The Lady Techsters came up empty again in the second, but the Blazers struck in the bottom half. Sophomore catcher Sarah Crawford started things off with a single to shallow center, then stole second and advanced to third after the ball was knocked loose on the tag attempt. Frazier cracked a single to short, scoring Crawford and giving UAB the early lead.

Louisiana Tech knocked a single, but made nothing out of it in the top of the third. UAB had more success in the bottom frame though, scoring another. Hegh led the inning off with a double to right center. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Dylinn Stancil, the Egg Harbor Township, N.J., native came home on an Ashton Clem sacrifice fly to give the Blazers a 2-0 lead.

Kachel and the UAB defense blanked Louisiana Tech again in the fourth. The Blazer offense then added a pair of singles from Frazier and Destiny England, but was unable to push either home.

In the fifth inning, the Lady Techster bats awakened with a vengeance. In a flurry of hits and walks that included three of each, Louisiana Tech was able to take advantage of having runners in scoring position and plate four in the inning. Junior pitcher Claire Blount took most of that damage as she replaced Kachel before the Lady Techsters got on the board, but had the bases loaded and no outs. The Blazers were unable to respond in the bottom half of the inning, failing to pose any threats.

Freshman pitcher Sarah Cespedes replaced Blount to lead off the sixth and knocked Louisiana Tech down in order with a strikeout and two forced putouts. In the bottom of the sixth, the Blazers still couldn't make their way home again as a Rachel Owens single was all that could be produced.

Already up two, Louisiana Tech bolstered its lead in the top of the seventh. After three straight singles to load the bases, a walk and a fielder's choice drove in a pair to increase the Lady Techsters' lead. With the game in the balance in the bottom of the seventh, UAB reached on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice, but was unable to string anything together, ultimately dropping the contest, 6-2.

UAB will hit the road next as they travel to Boca Raton, Fla., for another conference series as they take on Florida Atlantic (14-13) over the weekend. The Blazers and Owls will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23, then wrap up the series on Sunday, March 24. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin 3 p.m. on Saturday with game two following at 5 p.m. First pitch of the series finale is slated for 11 a.m. on Sunday.