UAB Drops Series Topper Against Florida Atlantic

Sunday, March 24

Boca Raton, Fla.

11 A.M.

UAB

Florida Atlantic

UAB Drops Series Topper Against Florida Atlantic

3/24/2019 4:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – With the series already decided, the UAB softball team (11-19, 2-7 C-USA) fell to Florida Atlantic (15-15, 3-3 C-USA), 7-3, on Sunday afternoon at the FAU Softball Stadium. The Blazers hung around early, but were unable to keep pace down the stretch, allowing the Owls to avoid the series sweep.

Sophomore catcher Sarah Crawford had the most productive day at the plate for the Blazers, going 2-for-3 on the day with a run scored and a stolen base. Junior outfielder Destini England led UAB in RBI after cracking a two-run double in the top of the second. Sophomore Emily Kachel and freshman Sarah Cespedes took the circle for the Blazers, with Kachel getting the start and Cespedes taking on the heaviest workload. Kachel picked up two strikeouts in two innings while giving up two runs during her time, while Cespedes had one strikeout against five runs in four innings, taking the loss.

UAB wasn't able to get off to a hot start and produce runs off the bat like the previous two games in yesterday's doubleheader. Although a pair reached base on walks for the Blazers, UAB failed to drive any runs home. Florida Atlantic took a page out of the Blazer playbook in the bottom of the first though, stringing together a few hits and taking advantage of a couple of UAB miscues to plate two for the early, 2-0 advantage.

The Blazers bounced right back in the top of the second as they loaded the bases for England after Ashton Clem and Claire Blount had previously walked while Crawford had singled to left. England came through in the clutch, hammering a two-RBI double up the middle to score Clem and Crawford. With the score knotted up, the Owls only picked up one hit in the bottom of the second. A Jenna Olszewki single was all the Blazers could manage in the top of the third as well.

Florida Atlantic broke through again in the bottom of third, sending home another pair after drawing a walk, knocking an RBI double and pushing an RBI single up the middle. UAB failed to muster any offense in the top of the fourth, but the Owls piled it on in the bottom half of the frame. After three consecutive singles, some alert base running, a couple of Blazer errors and a two-RBI double, Florida Atlantic racked up three more runs to take a 7-2 lead into the top of the fifth.

For the next couple of innings, both offenses were stagnant again as Crawford was the only Blazer to earn a hit. This brought UAB back to the plate down five with just three outs remaining. The Blazers didn't mail it in as Blount and Faith Hegh both singled. Stancil then drove in Blount on a sacrifice fly to center after Blount had stolen a bag as well, but she would be the final Blazer to cross the plate as UAB took it on the chin, 7-3. Despite that, the Blazers still claimed the series, 2-1, after Saturday's previous two wins.

The Blazers will be back home next week as they prepare to host a midweek game and a weekend conference series. UAB will first host Jacksonville State (18-6, 2-0 OVC) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Blazers will then take on UTEP (9-22, 3-6 C-USA) in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, closing the weekend out against the Miners on Sunday at 1 p.m., all at Mary Bowers Field.

For more information on the UAB softball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter and Instagram (@UAB_SB).