UAB Comeback Ends Shy in Teal Game Against Mississippi State

Tuesday, April 16

Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field

5 P.M.

UAB

15-27

Mississippi State

26-17

Mississippi State

UAB

UAB Comeback Ends Shy in Teal Game Against Mississippi State

4/16/2019 9:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (15-27, 5-12 C-USA) started its inaugural teal game against Mississippi State (26-17, 3-12 SEC) with a five-run deficit after two innings, but stormed back to cut the Bulldog lead to one before ultimately falling, 5-4, on Tuesday night at Mary Bowers Field. UAB has now been edged by two SEC powers from the state of Mississippi in back-to-back weeks after Ole Miss squeaked out a win at home over the Blazers in extras, 3-2, last Wednesday.

Both teams wore special teal uniforms for the game to represent ovarian cancer awareness and honor former Bulldog outfielder Alex Wilcox. Fans were encouraged to wear teal, and wristbands were given out to further the cause. For more information on how to fight ovarian cancer and spread awareness, visit www.geauxteal.com.

Junior outfielder Destini England led the Blazer bats through the game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. England also made a stellar diving grab in the bottom of the sixth to prevent Mississippi State from building on its lead. From the circle, sophomore Emily Kachel got the start, going two innings and giving up five runs on five hits with a strikeout. Freshman Sarah Cespedes entered in relief at the start of the third, going the rest of the way and allowing no runs on six hits with one strikeout.

"The team competed as well today as we have in a long time," said coach Jimmy Kolaitis. "We need to execute on the offensive side a little better, but we had some quality at-bats throughout the game. Sarah Cespedes entered in relief and gave us a chance to win the game late. Our defense made some great plays in some key moments. We will have a week to rest and get ready for North Texas."

Mississippi State wasted no time getting going in the top of the first, cranking a three-run shot to dead center to take the early lead after starting the inning with a single and drawing a walk. The Blazers then settled down after the initial flurry, getting out of the inning with three fly outs, but were unable to respond in the bottom of the frame.

After UAB forced a pair of putouts to open the second inning, Mississippi State struck again with a single and a two-run blast out of left to follow. Kachel then picked up her first strikeout of the day to bring the Blazers back to the plate.

In the bottom of the second, UAB answered back, scoring a pair. The Blazers loaded the bases to start the inning as sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski and sophomore catcher Sarah Crawford each drew walks while England sent a laser to right field for a double in between the two. Freshman infielder Sierra Frazier then stepped to the plate, driving in Olszewski and England on a dribbler that was misplayed by the Bulldogs. Mississippi State picked up three straight outs to follow, maintaining a 5-2 lead.

Cespedes relieved Kachel to open the third, allowing just one hit in the half inning. Freshman outfielder Faith Hegh would lead off the bottom of the third with an infield single, but the Blazers weren't able to capitalize on the quick start.

The Bulldogs threatened early in the top of the fourth, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one down. Cespedes would get out of the jam with one pitch though, forcing a double play ball that junior infielder Ashton Clem cleanly executed. UAB next went down in order in the bottom of the frame.

Cespedes continued to deal in the top of the fifth, only allowing one hit to bring the Blazers back to the plate. Junior infielder Natalie Erwin led UAB off in the bottom of the frame with a single up the middle, then advanced to second on a ground ball. With Erwin in scoring position, junior infielder Dylinn Stancil blistered an RBI double down the left-field line to score Erwin. Later, England slapped another double to left, picking up an RBI of her own by scoring Stancil, cutting the Mississippi State lead to one. UAB would head into the sixth trailing, 5-4.

Mississippi State put a pair on with one out to open the top of the sixth behind a leadoff single and a walk, but the Blazers would come out of the inning unscathed after a routine pop up and a diving grab by England to close out the top of the frame. After an athletic play by the Bulldog first baseman to turn two, UAB put runners on the corners as Clem drew a walk and Erwin's single to follow pushed her to third. The Blazers were unable to drive a run home though, going into the potential final frame still trailing by a run.

Despite picking up a one-out double, Cespedes would again take care of business by earning a strikeout and forcing a line out to send the Blazers back to the plate needing just one run to extend the game. Olszewski managed to draw a walk to bring the winning run to the plate with one down, but UAB came up empty beyond that, leaving the comeback attempt from five down a run short, resulting in the 5-4 loss.

UAB will now head into its longest break of the season with a bye over the weekend and no midweek game scheduled next week. The next competition for the Blazers will be their final home series, a conference series against North Texas on April 27 and April 28 at Mary Bowers Field. The Blazers and the Mean Green will play in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, then wrap up the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.

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).