The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, March 23
Boca Raton, Fla.
3 P.M.
UAB
5
at
3
Florida Atlantic
Blazers Sweep Doubleheader for First Conference Series Win
3/24/2019 12:36:00 AM | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The UAB softball team (11-18, 2-6 C-USA) won both games of its series-opening doubleheader against Florida Atlantic (14-15, 2-3 C-USA) at the FAU Softball Stadium on Saturday, marking the team's first conference win and conference series win of the season. UAB came out of the gate firing in both games, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and never looking back. The Blazers kept their distance in game one, 5-3, and locked down the Owls in game two, 5-1.
Game One: UAB 5, Florida Atlantic 3
Junior infielder Dylinn Stancil got UAB started in game one as she cracked a double down the right-field line to drive in Destini England, who had drawn a lead-off walk. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski was the next to send home a score as she plated Faith Hegh from third, who had also reached on a walk. Shortly after, Natalie Erwin got in on the hit party, singling up the middle and allowing Stancil to score and put UAB up 3-0 in the top of the first. Florida Atlantic came up with its own response in the bottom of the inning, driving in a run on a squeeze bunt that turned into a single after the scoring Owl had previously walked, stolen a bag and advanced on a single.
Neither side would make another sound at the plate in the second inning, but Florida Atlantic inched closer in the third. The Owls cut the Blazer lead to one with a solo shot to left field, but did no more damage in the inning.
In the top of the fourth, UAB would further the gap. After a pair of singles from Rachel Owens and England, a Stancil single and fielding error by the Owls would allow Owens and England to score, giving the Blazers a 5-2 lead.
Both sides were quiet again until the bottom of the fifth, when a couple of Florida Atlantic singles would plate one more and cut the Blazer lead to two. That would be all she wrote for the Owls in game one though as the Blazers wouldn't add to their lead, but shut down Florida Atlantic's bats for the next two innings.
Stancil would lead UAB at the plate, connecting on three out of four at-bats for two RBI and scoring a run. The Blazers pitched by committee as Emily Kachel, Bailey Barnes and Sarah Cespedes each saw time in the circle, but Kachel would earn the win after starting the game and punching three strikeouts after putting in 3.2 innings of work
Game Two: UAB 5, Florida Atlantic 1
Olszewski got the ball rolling for the Blazers in game two as she sent home a Stancil and Erwin on a double, who had previously singled and reached on an error, respectively. Another double to follow from junior infielder Ashton Clem would then plate Olzewski to give UAB another 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
The next four and a half innings wouldn't vie for much more than uneventful as the Blazers clung to their lead, only adding a handful of singles from Hegh, Erwin and England, while junior pitcher Claire Blount locked the Owls down from the circle.
In the top of the sixth, Clem opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch and later scored on an England double bolster the Blazer lead. Florida Atlantic would continue to struggle at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, but UAB added one more in the top of the seventh. After an Erwin double and an Olzsewski single, Clem sent a sacrifice fly out to left field to score Erwin and give UAB a 5-0 lead. The Owls would break the sutout in the bottom of the seventh by scoring on a sacrifice fly after a few consecutive walks, but Cespedes would wrap up the game for Blount shortly after to preserve the 5-1 win.
Blount led the way for the Blazers in the majority of game two, pitching a near complete-game shutout and going six total innings with one earned run on three hits while firing five strikeouts. At the plate, Olzsewki spearheaded the Blazer offense and took advantage of her opportunities by going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored on the game.
The Blazers will be back in action on Sunday at 11 a.m. to wrap up the series at the FAU Softball Stadium.
Game One: UAB 5, Florida Atlantic 3
Junior infielder Dylinn Stancil got UAB started in game one as she cracked a double down the right-field line to drive in Destini England, who had drawn a lead-off walk. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski was the next to send home a score as she plated Faith Hegh from third, who had also reached on a walk. Shortly after, Natalie Erwin got in on the hit party, singling up the middle and allowing Stancil to score and put UAB up 3-0 in the top of the first. Florida Atlantic came up with its own response in the bottom of the inning, driving in a run on a squeeze bunt that turned into a single after the scoring Owl had previously walked, stolen a bag and advanced on a single.
Neither side would make another sound at the plate in the second inning, but Florida Atlantic inched closer in the third. The Owls cut the Blazer lead to one with a solo shot to left field, but did no more damage in the inning.
In the top of the fourth, UAB would further the gap. After a pair of singles from Rachel Owens and England, a Stancil single and fielding error by the Owls would allow Owens and England to score, giving the Blazers a 5-2 lead.
Both sides were quiet again until the bottom of the fifth, when a couple of Florida Atlantic singles would plate one more and cut the Blazer lead to two. That would be all she wrote for the Owls in game one though as the Blazers wouldn't add to their lead, but shut down Florida Atlantic's bats for the next two innings.
Stancil would lead UAB at the plate, connecting on three out of four at-bats for two RBI and scoring a run. The Blazers pitched by committee as Emily Kachel, Bailey Barnes and Sarah Cespedes each saw time in the circle, but Kachel would earn the win after starting the game and punching three strikeouts after putting in 3.2 innings of work
Game Two: UAB 5, Florida Atlantic 1
Olszewski got the ball rolling for the Blazers in game two as she sent home a Stancil and Erwin on a double, who had previously singled and reached on an error, respectively. Another double to follow from junior infielder Ashton Clem would then plate Olzewski to give UAB another 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
The next four and a half innings wouldn't vie for much more than uneventful as the Blazers clung to their lead, only adding a handful of singles from Hegh, Erwin and England, while junior pitcher Claire Blount locked the Owls down from the circle.
In the top of the sixth, Clem opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch and later scored on an England double bolster the Blazer lead. Florida Atlantic would continue to struggle at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, but UAB added one more in the top of the seventh. After an Erwin double and an Olzsewski single, Clem sent a sacrifice fly out to left field to score Erwin and give UAB a 5-0 lead. The Owls would break the sutout in the bottom of the seventh by scoring on a sacrifice fly after a few consecutive walks, but Cespedes would wrap up the game for Blount shortly after to preserve the 5-1 win.
Blount led the way for the Blazers in the majority of game two, pitching a near complete-game shutout and going six total innings with one earned run on three hits while firing five strikeouts. At the plate, Olzsewki spearheaded the Blazer offense and took advantage of her opportunities by going 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored on the game.
The Blazers will be back in action on Sunday at 11 a.m. to wrap up the series at the FAU Softball Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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