The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, April 13
Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field
1 P.M.
UAB
15-24, 5-10
0
vs
2
Southern Miss
24-16, 9-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Southern Miss
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
5
1
UAB
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
1
Blazers Drop Doubleheader Against Southern Miss
4/13/2019 9:23:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (15-25, 5-11 C-USA) came up short in both games of a doubleheader against Southern Miss (25-16, 10-7 C-USA) on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field, falling 2-0 in game one and 7-4 in game two, respectively. The Blazers hung around in both games, but the Golden Eagles never allowed more than a tie as Southern Miss' highly touted pitching staff proved its merit.
In game one, the Blazers had little trouble getting hits, but were unable to string any together. Meanwhile, a Golden Eagle solo bomb and some UAB miscues allowed Southern Miss to take the lead and hold on for the 2-0 win. The bats opened up on both sides in game two. UAB responded to the gradual building of a lead by Southern Miss with a three-run outburst in the bottom of the third to even the score. That wouldn't be enough for the Blazers, despite junior infielder Natalie Erwin's laser out of left, as the Golden Eagles would add four solo home runs of their owns to seal the deal, 7-4.
Game One: Southern Miss 2, UAB 0
Southern Miss was unable to get anything going in the top of the first as the Blazers retired the side in order. Junior outfielder Dylinn Stancil picked up a single in the bottom of the frame, but UAB was unable to get anything else going.
The Golden Eagles picked up a single in the second inning as did UAB from junior pitcher and designated player Claire Blount, but neither side was able to get on the board once again.
In the top of the third, Southern Miss broke through with a solo shot off the scoreboard in right field. The Golden Eagles would threaten with a pair reaching base, but sophomore pitcher Emily Kachel concluded the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a forced foul out. UAB tallied another hit to follow in a single to left from freshman outfielder Faith Hegh, but remained scoreless after three.
Kachel heated up in the top of the fourth, knocking down another pair and forcing a foul out to bring the Blazers back to the plate. UAB threatened in the bottom of the inning as junior outfielder Destini England and Blount both singled, reaching second and third with some aggressive base running, but the Blazers failed to drive a run home.
Southern Miss went down in order on three straight putouts in the top of the sixth, but a Jenna Olszewski single was all UAB could add in the bottom of the frame. The Golden Eagles would put a pair on in the top of the seventh, but junior Stancil ended the inning herself by catching a pop fly and turning two soon after.
Down to their final three outs, the Blazers threatened by putting a pair in scoring position. After junior infielder Ashton Clem walked and Erwin hit an infield single, both advanced a bag on a double steal to reach second and third with two down. Southern Miss came up with the final out shortly after though, taking the 2-0 win.
Blount had the best showing at the plate for the Blazers in game one, going 2-for-3. Kachel earned the start and put in 4.1 innings of work, giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Sarah Cespedes finished out the game, going 2.2 innings without allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Game Two: Southern Miss 7, UAB 4
Southern Miss got going early in game two, getting aboard in the top of the first. After reaching on an error and finding a gap for a single, the Golden Eagles put runners on the corners with a fielder's choice. That set up a successful double steal, giving Southern Miss the early lead. UAB was then put out in order in the bottom of the frame, keeping the Golden Eagle up by one.
Neither side was able to manage a hit in the second inning, but the bats of both squads heated up in the third. Southern Miss strung together three straight singles to plate its second run of the game, then scored on a passed ball to take a 3-0 lead.
The Blazers came roaring back in the bottom of the frame, evening things up with three runs of their own. After sophomore infielder Rachel Owens reached on a walk and Clem singled to open the inning, Erwin hit into a fielder's choice and stole second. With two runners in scoring position, the Blazers knocked three consecutive RBI singles. Hegh cracked the first to score Owens and put the Blazers on the board. Soon after, Olszewski hit another to score Erwin. Blount then followed suit to score Stancil and even things up at three apiece.
The fourth inning was much like the second as an Erwin single was the only hit of the inning. Southern Miss climbed back on top in the fifth though, sending two solo shots out of left and center field. UAB put a pair on in the bottom of the frame as Olszewski drew a lead-off walk and Crawford singled, but the Blazers were unable to plate a run.
UAB took care of business in the top of the six and drew within a run in the bottom of the inning with Erwin's solo dinger to left, but that would be as close as the Blazers would come.
Southern Miss kept its foot on the gas as the Golden Eagles blistered another pair of solo home runs to extend their lead to 7-4. UAB got out of the inning on a double play, but the Blazers went down in order to conclude the game.
Erwin led the way at the plate in game two for UAB, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI after her blast to left. Blount took the brunt of the work from the circle, going 4.1 innings and giving up four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Cespedes got the start, going the first two innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Sophomore Bailie Barnes wrapped the game up, going the final 0.2 of an inning without allowing any hits or runs.
The Blazers are scheduled to be back at it for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field depending on weather.
General admission tickets for home games 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 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).
In game one, the Blazers had little trouble getting hits, but were unable to string any together. Meanwhile, a Golden Eagle solo bomb and some UAB miscues allowed Southern Miss to take the lead and hold on for the 2-0 win. The bats opened up on both sides in game two. UAB responded to the gradual building of a lead by Southern Miss with a three-run outburst in the bottom of the third to even the score. That wouldn't be enough for the Blazers, despite junior infielder Natalie Erwin's laser out of left, as the Golden Eagles would add four solo home runs of their owns to seal the deal, 7-4.
Game One: Southern Miss 2, UAB 0
Southern Miss was unable to get anything going in the top of the first as the Blazers retired the side in order. Junior outfielder Dylinn Stancil picked up a single in the bottom of the frame, but UAB was unable to get anything else going.
The Golden Eagles picked up a single in the second inning as did UAB from junior pitcher and designated player Claire Blount, but neither side was able to get on the board once again.
In the top of the third, Southern Miss broke through with a solo shot off the scoreboard in right field. The Golden Eagles would threaten with a pair reaching base, but sophomore pitcher Emily Kachel concluded the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a forced foul out. UAB tallied another hit to follow in a single to left from freshman outfielder Faith Hegh, but remained scoreless after three.
Kachel heated up in the top of the fourth, knocking down another pair and forcing a foul out to bring the Blazers back to the plate. UAB threatened in the bottom of the inning as junior outfielder Destini England and Blount both singled, reaching second and third with some aggressive base running, but the Blazers failed to drive a run home.
Southern Miss went down in order on three straight putouts in the top of the sixth, but a Jenna Olszewski single was all UAB could add in the bottom of the frame. The Golden Eagles would put a pair on in the top of the seventh, but junior Stancil ended the inning herself by catching a pop fly and turning two soon after.
Down to their final three outs, the Blazers threatened by putting a pair in scoring position. After junior infielder Ashton Clem walked and Erwin hit an infield single, both advanced a bag on a double steal to reach second and third with two down. Southern Miss came up with the final out shortly after though, taking the 2-0 win.
Blount had the best showing at the plate for the Blazers in game one, going 2-for-3. Kachel earned the start and put in 4.1 innings of work, giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Sarah Cespedes finished out the game, going 2.2 innings without allowing a run on two hits with two strikeouts.
Game Two: Southern Miss 7, UAB 4
Southern Miss got going early in game two, getting aboard in the top of the first. After reaching on an error and finding a gap for a single, the Golden Eagles put runners on the corners with a fielder's choice. That set up a successful double steal, giving Southern Miss the early lead. UAB was then put out in order in the bottom of the frame, keeping the Golden Eagle up by one.
Neither side was able to manage a hit in the second inning, but the bats of both squads heated up in the third. Southern Miss strung together three straight singles to plate its second run of the game, then scored on a passed ball to take a 3-0 lead.
The Blazers came roaring back in the bottom of the frame, evening things up with three runs of their own. After sophomore infielder Rachel Owens reached on a walk and Clem singled to open the inning, Erwin hit into a fielder's choice and stole second. With two runners in scoring position, the Blazers knocked three consecutive RBI singles. Hegh cracked the first to score Owens and put the Blazers on the board. Soon after, Olszewski hit another to score Erwin. Blount then followed suit to score Stancil and even things up at three apiece.
The fourth inning was much like the second as an Erwin single was the only hit of the inning. Southern Miss climbed back on top in the fifth though, sending two solo shots out of left and center field. UAB put a pair on in the bottom of the frame as Olszewski drew a lead-off walk and Crawford singled, but the Blazers were unable to plate a run.
UAB took care of business in the top of the six and drew within a run in the bottom of the inning with Erwin's solo dinger to left, but that would be as close as the Blazers would come.
Southern Miss kept its foot on the gas as the Golden Eagles blistered another pair of solo home runs to extend their lead to 7-4. UAB got out of the inning on a double play, but the Blazers went down in order to conclude the game.
Erwin led the way at the plate in game two for UAB, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI after her blast to left. Blount took the brunt of the work from the circle, going 4.1 innings and giving up four runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Cespedes got the start, going the first two innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Sophomore Bailie Barnes wrapped the game up, going the final 0.2 of an inning without allowing any hits or runs.
The Blazers are scheduled to be back at it for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field depending on weather.
General admission tickets for home games 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 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).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Abby Trahan (12-8)
L: Kachel, Emily (4-7)
Batting:
HR: Destini Brown 1
RBI: Destini Brown 1 ; Madison Rayner 1
SH: Destini Brown 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Destini Brown 1 ; Samantha Papp 1
HBP: Destini Brown 1 ; Chase Nelson 1
Base Running:
SB: Erwin, Natalie 1 ; Clem, Ashton 1
CS: Olszewski, Jenna 1
HBP: Clem, Ashton 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballP
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
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OF
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IF
/ SoftballINF
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