Blazers Split with UTEP After Walk Off Grand Slam Win in Game One

Saturday, March 30

Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field

3 P.M.

UAB

13-19, 3-7

UTEP

9-23, 3-8

UTEP

UAB

Blazers Split with UTEP After Walk Off Grand Slam Win in Game One

3/30/2019 10:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (13-20, 3-8 C-USA) split a doubleheader with UTEP (10-23, 4-7) on Saturday at Mary Bowers Field, winning game one on a walk off grand slam by junior infielder Dylinn Stancil, 5-1, and dropping game two, 7-3.

In game one, the Blazers scored a run in the top of the first that would hold until UTEP knocked a solo shot to left center to tie the game in the top of the seventh, and the game would stay knotted at one through an extra inning and a half until Stancil's walk-off bomb for the 5-1 win. UTEP controlled game two for its majority, scoring two in the top of the first and answering Sierra Frazier's two-run dinger in the bottom of the second with four more runs. UAB would draw a run closer in the bottom of the sixth, but the Miners would add another insurance run in the seventh and put out the remaining Blazers in the bottom of the seventh to take the 7-3 win.

Game One: UAB 5, UTEP 1

UTEP was unable to get anything going in the top of the first inning, but the Blazers struck in the bottom half of the frame with two down using aggressive base running. After Stancil reached on a walk, Natalie Erwin squeezed a single through the right side. Stancil then took the initiative to bypass third and advance home, sliding in safe on an overthrow to give UAB the 1-0 lead.

Both pitchers would lock down from the circle for the next five innings, keeping the bats silent and preserving the Blazers' 1-0 lead. The Blazers and Miners would combine for five hits over that span with Rachel Owens, Faith Hegh and Jenna Olszewski single being the only noise for the UAB.

With their backs against the wall in the top of the seventh, the Miners would get on the board with a solo shot to left center to even things up. UTEP would threaten with more by moving a pair of runners into scoring position, but freshman pitcher Sarah Cespedes would get out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout.

In extras, Cespedes continued to deal for the Blazers, picking up four strikeouts in the eighth and ninth innings alone to hold the Miners scoreless over the two innings. Natalie Erwin picked up the only hit for the Blazers in the bottom of the eighth, but UAB got it going in the bottom of the ninth. After a pair of singles from Olszewski and Sierra Frazier along with a Faith Hegh walk, Stancil came up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. In perhaps the most high pressure moment of her young UAB career, Stancil delivered a grand slam over left center to walk it off for the Blazers with a 5-1 win.

Outside of Stancil's monumental play that earned her four RBI to seal the win, Olszewski also had a strong performance going 2-for-3 with and run scored. In the circle, Emily Kachel got the start and went five innings, picking up three strikeouts and giving up no runs on two hits. Cespedes got the win after going four innings and giving up one run on four hits to go with her five strikeouts.

Game Two: UTEP 7, UAB 3

After their comeback attempt in game one came up short, the Miners came out firing in game two. After drawing a walk and adding a single, UTEP plated one on a sacrifice fly. The Miners scored another on an error, coming out of the frame with a 2-0 lead. The Blazers would pick up a single from Stancil in the bottom of the first, but nothing more.

UAB would retire the side in the top of the frame and even things up in the bottom of the second. After sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski drew a full-count walk to open the inning, the Blazers home run leader, Sierra Frazier, cranked her fifth home run of the season to knot things up at two all. The Blazers would add a pair of singles from Rachel Owens and Ashton Clem after, but leave them stranded.

The Blazer response wouldn't slow down the Miners as they responded by adding four more runs in the top of the third. UTEP would load the bases on an error, a walk and a bunt that turned into a single, then drive the first run home on a sacrifice fly. A double and single to follow would plate two more, and the final run would steal home while another runner was in a rundown to put the Miners up, 6-2, at the end of the half inning.

In the next three innings, the only noise from the Blazer bats would be singles for Natalie Erwin and Destini England. As sophomore pitcher Bailie Barnes would enter the game to open the fourth, UAB would only allow two hits by UTEP as well during that time.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Blazers inched closer. Olszewski first cracked a double to lead off the inning, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Junior Claire Blount would next step up to the plate, singling through the left side to drive home Olszewski to cut the Miner lead to 6-3.

UTEP would get a run right back though, driving a run in on a groundout after three straight singles. UAB wouldn't allow any more runs, but that would prove not to make a difference as the Blazers were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, falling 7-3.

Olszewski had another solid outing at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. The group effort in the circle started with Blount, who gave up four runs on six hits in three innings. Barnes picked up from there, going three more innings and giving up no runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Cespedes closed things out for the Blazers with one final inning of work where she picked up a strikeout while giving up one run on three hits.

The Blazers will be back in action on Sunday at 1 p.m. to decide the series at Mary Bowers Field.

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