The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, March 23
Boca Raton, Fla.
3 P.M.
UAB
at
Florida Atlantic
UAB Heads to Florida Atlantic for Weekend Conference Series
3/22/2019 5:50:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team will hit the road this weekend as it travels to Boca Raton, Fla., to take on Florida Atlantic for another conference series at the FAU Softball Stadium. The Blazers will square off against the Owls in a doubleheader on Saturday, then conclude the series on Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is slated for 3 p.m. CT for game one and 5 p.m. CT for game two. The series is set to be capped off on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT.
UAB (9-18, 0-6 C-USA) comes into the series after a tough series against Louisiana Tech last weekend. The Blazers led for a majority of all three games, including having at least a one-run advantage going into the top of the seventh inning in games one and two, but ultimately dropped each of the three games.
Despite the tough breaks this season, the Blazers boast some of the best batting numbers in the conference. UAB leads the conference and is currently ranked No. 39 in the country in batting average at .306. The Blazers also lead the conference and are in the top 10 in the nation in doubles per game, coming in at No. 8 with 1.89 per game. The Blazers are tied for first in triples on the season in conference with seven and currently place second in total bases with 334, trailing UTEP by just one.
Individually, freshman outfielder Faith Hegh has stepped up to lead the Blazer bats this season as she ranks second in the conference and in the top 100 in the nation in batting average at .411. Hegh is also second in the conference and No. 17 in the NCAA in doubles with 10 on the year. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski is also one of the best in knocking triples this season, ranking No. 11 in the country and tied for second in the conference with four to date. In the circle, freshman pitcher Sarah Cespedes has led the Blazers with a 4.48 ERA, going 3-3 with two complete games and 31 strikeouts on the season.
Florida Atlantic (14-13, 2-1 C-USA) will host the matchup on the heels of a 2-1 conference-opening series win over Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss., last weekend. The Owls took down the Golden Eagles in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, coming out on top 3-1 in game one and 5-3 in game two, before dropping the series topper, 2-0, on Sunday.
Senior pitcher Mia Olson leads FAU at the plate this season with a .342 batting average after piling up 27 hits, four doubles six home runs and 21 RBI for a .620 slugging percentage and .416 on base percentage. In the circle, fellow senior pitcher and Orlando, Fla., native Kelsey Morrison spearheads the Owls' pitching efforts with a 1.96 ERA, going 6-2 on the season with four complete games and 21 strikeouts. Senior outfielder Madisyn Palmer has also blazed the base paths this season as she ranks first in conference and No. 8 in the NCAA in stolen bases per game with a 0.85 average.
In the brief history of the all-time series between the two sides, Florida Atlantic currently holds a 4-2 lead. The Blazers took the first meeting, 4-3, on March 15, 2014, at Mary Bowers Field, going on to win the only series between the two with a 4-2 win in the series finale the following day. The Owls have since won the last three contests in the Conference USA Championship Tournament, most recently earning a 5-1 win on May 11, 2018, in the semifinals of the bracket last season in Charlotte, N.C., before going on to win the tournament.
The Blazers will next come home to host a midweek game on Wednesday, March 27, against Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. CT at Mary Bowers Field.
For Blazer home games, general admission tickets are on sale for $5 for adults and $3 for youth and chairback seats are available for $10 for adults and $6 for youth. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, online at uabsports.com, or by calling the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Fans can receive access to every softball, women's basketball and baseball game for the entire 2018-19 season by purchasing a Gold Card. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB softball team follow the Blazers on Twitter and Instagram (@UAB_SB).
UAB (9-18, 0-6 C-USA) comes into the series after a tough series against Louisiana Tech last weekend. The Blazers led for a majority of all three games, including having at least a one-run advantage going into the top of the seventh inning in games one and two, but ultimately dropped each of the three games.
Despite the tough breaks this season, the Blazers boast some of the best batting numbers in the conference. UAB leads the conference and is currently ranked No. 39 in the country in batting average at .306. The Blazers also lead the conference and are in the top 10 in the nation in doubles per game, coming in at No. 8 with 1.89 per game. The Blazers are tied for first in triples on the season in conference with seven and currently place second in total bases with 334, trailing UTEP by just one.
Individually, freshman outfielder Faith Hegh has stepped up to lead the Blazer bats this season as she ranks second in the conference and in the top 100 in the nation in batting average at .411. Hegh is also second in the conference and No. 17 in the NCAA in doubles with 10 on the year. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski is also one of the best in knocking triples this season, ranking No. 11 in the country and tied for second in the conference with four to date. In the circle, freshman pitcher Sarah Cespedes has led the Blazers with a 4.48 ERA, going 3-3 with two complete games and 31 strikeouts on the season.
Florida Atlantic (14-13, 2-1 C-USA) will host the matchup on the heels of a 2-1 conference-opening series win over Southern Miss in Hattiesburg, Miss., last weekend. The Owls took down the Golden Eagles in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, coming out on top 3-1 in game one and 5-3 in game two, before dropping the series topper, 2-0, on Sunday.
Senior pitcher Mia Olson leads FAU at the plate this season with a .342 batting average after piling up 27 hits, four doubles six home runs and 21 RBI for a .620 slugging percentage and .416 on base percentage. In the circle, fellow senior pitcher and Orlando, Fla., native Kelsey Morrison spearheads the Owls' pitching efforts with a 1.96 ERA, going 6-2 on the season with four complete games and 21 strikeouts. Senior outfielder Madisyn Palmer has also blazed the base paths this season as she ranks first in conference and No. 8 in the NCAA in stolen bases per game with a 0.85 average.
In the brief history of the all-time series between the two sides, Florida Atlantic currently holds a 4-2 lead. The Blazers took the first meeting, 4-3, on March 15, 2014, at Mary Bowers Field, going on to win the only series between the two with a 4-2 win in the series finale the following day. The Owls have since won the last three contests in the Conference USA Championship Tournament, most recently earning a 5-1 win on May 11, 2018, in the semifinals of the bracket last season in Charlotte, N.C., before going on to win the tournament.
The Blazers will next come home to host a midweek game on Wednesday, March 27, against Jacksonville State at 5 p.m. CT at Mary Bowers Field.
For Blazer home games, general admission tickets are on sale for $5 for adults and $3 for youth and chairback seats are available for $10 for adults and $6 for youth. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, online at uabsports.com, or by calling the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1.
Fans can receive access to every softball, women's basketball and baseball game for the entire 2018-19 season by purchasing a Gold Card. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB softball team follow the Blazers on Twitter and Instagram (@UAB_SB).
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