The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Hit the Road for Second Shot at No. 4 Alabama
4/2/2019 4:47:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – After winning its second conference series of the season over UTEP last weekend, the UAB softball team will next head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Wednesday to face off against No. 4 Alabama for the second time this season. The battle between the Blazers and the Crimson Tide will take place at Rhoads Stadium this go-around, and first pitch for the matchup is set for 6 p.m.
UAB (14-20, 4-8 C-USA) comes into the contest riding its best stretch of the season as the Blazers have gone 5-2 in their past seven games. Over that span, UAB claimed two conference series over Florida Atlantic and UTEP, while also defeating Jacksonville State in a midweek game. UAB took two out of three games from both Florida Atlantic and UTEP, also outlasting Jacksonville State behind an eight-run sixth inning to come away with a 9-3 win.
Against UTEP, sophomore pitcher Emily Kachel led the way for the Blazers from the circle. The Kennesaw, Ga., native went five innings in game one, only giving up two hits and no runs with three strikeouts as UAB downed UTEP, 5-1, in extra innings. In game two, Kachel dealt a complete game for the win, going all seven innings and only giving up one unearned run on three hits to go with seven strikeouts to achieve a 0.00 ERA and guide the Blazers to a 4-1 win. Junior infielder Dylinn Stancil provided game one's heroics as she blasted a walk off grand slam with two down in the bottom of the ninth. Junior outfielder Destini England and freshman infielder Sierra Frazier led the Blazer bats in game three, both going 2-for-3 at the plate, with England scoring a run and Frazier picking up an RBI.
Over the course of the season, UAB has maintained some of the best batting numbers in the conference. The Blazers previously led the conference in batting average for three straight weeks, now ranking second in conference and No. 39 in the NCAA at .304. UAB currently leads the conference in doubles per game, coming in at No. 12 in the nation at 1.76 per game.
Individually, sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski is currently ranked No. 19 in the country and third in the conference in triples on the season with four to date. Freshman outfielder Faith Hegh continues to lead the Blazers at the plate overall, posting a .361 batting average along with 10 doubles, a .464 slugging percentage and a .446 on-base percentage. In the circle, Kachel has led the way for UAB this season with 14 starts in 19 appearances, notching a 3.85 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 67.1 innings of work for four wins to date.
Alabama (36-2, 7-2 SEC) will host the midweek battle after a clinching a series win over Mississippi State, but suffering its second loss of the season as the Bulldogs downed the Crimson Tide in game three in 10 innings, 12-9. Game one was similar to the series finale as the Crimson Tide claimed it in extras with a 3-2 win in eight innings. Game two was the only game of the series without a tight finish as Alabama overpowered Mississippi State, 8-2. Before losing to Texas A&M on March 24, the Crimson Tide had won 33 straight. Since that game, Alabama has gone 3-1.
With such a record this season, the Crimson Tide have some of the top statistical rankings in the country. As a team, Alabama currently leads the SEC in home runs per game and win/loss percentage, while coming in second in stolen bases per game. The Crimson Tide sixth in the nation in home runs per game at 1.55, second in the NCAA in win/loss percentage at 0.947 and 11th in the country in stolen bases per game at 2.24.
Individually, freshman pitcher Montana Fouts leads Alabama from the circle with a 12-1 record with 10 complete games and 111 strikeouts, coming in with the fifth best ERA nationally and best ERA in the SEC at 1.05. Along with Fouts, junior pitcher Sarah Cornell also poses a threat from the circle with a 1.94 ERA, 53 strikeouts and five complete games as she has compiled 14 wins and without a loss on the season, a mark that ranks second in the SEC and 18th in the NCAA. At the plate, junior utility player Bailey Hemphill leads the country and SEC in RBI with 54 on the year. Part of that record comes from the Lafayette, La., native knocking 16 home runs on the season as well, which marks third in the nation and second in the SEC. Kaylee Tow is also an impact player for the Crimson Tide with a bat in her hand as she leads the team with a 3.72 batting average and 10 doubles to go with her .723 slugging percentage and .567 on-base percentage.
In the all-time series between the two, Alabama is currently undefeated with 24 wins. The Blazers fell 8-0 in the most recent contest between the two earlier this season.
UAB will stay on the road next as they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to take on Middle Tennessee in another weekend conference series. The Blazers and Blue Raiders will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, then wrap up the series on Sunday. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. start time for game two on Saturday. The series finale is set to begin at noon on Sunday.
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, women's basketball 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).
UAB (14-20, 4-8 C-USA) comes into the contest riding its best stretch of the season as the Blazers have gone 5-2 in their past seven games. Over that span, UAB claimed two conference series over Florida Atlantic and UTEP, while also defeating Jacksonville State in a midweek game. UAB took two out of three games from both Florida Atlantic and UTEP, also outlasting Jacksonville State behind an eight-run sixth inning to come away with a 9-3 win.
Against UTEP, sophomore pitcher Emily Kachel led the way for the Blazers from the circle. The Kennesaw, Ga., native went five innings in game one, only giving up two hits and no runs with three strikeouts as UAB downed UTEP, 5-1, in extra innings. In game two, Kachel dealt a complete game for the win, going all seven innings and only giving up one unearned run on three hits to go with seven strikeouts to achieve a 0.00 ERA and guide the Blazers to a 4-1 win. Junior infielder Dylinn Stancil provided game one's heroics as she blasted a walk off grand slam with two down in the bottom of the ninth. Junior outfielder Destini England and freshman infielder Sierra Frazier led the Blazer bats in game three, both going 2-for-3 at the plate, with England scoring a run and Frazier picking up an RBI.
Over the course of the season, UAB has maintained some of the best batting numbers in the conference. The Blazers previously led the conference in batting average for three straight weeks, now ranking second in conference and No. 39 in the NCAA at .304. UAB currently leads the conference in doubles per game, coming in at No. 12 in the nation at 1.76 per game.
Individually, sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski is currently ranked No. 19 in the country and third in the conference in triples on the season with four to date. Freshman outfielder Faith Hegh continues to lead the Blazers at the plate overall, posting a .361 batting average along with 10 doubles, a .464 slugging percentage and a .446 on-base percentage. In the circle, Kachel has led the way for UAB this season with 14 starts in 19 appearances, notching a 3.85 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 67.1 innings of work for four wins to date.
Alabama (36-2, 7-2 SEC) will host the midweek battle after a clinching a series win over Mississippi State, but suffering its second loss of the season as the Bulldogs downed the Crimson Tide in game three in 10 innings, 12-9. Game one was similar to the series finale as the Crimson Tide claimed it in extras with a 3-2 win in eight innings. Game two was the only game of the series without a tight finish as Alabama overpowered Mississippi State, 8-2. Before losing to Texas A&M on March 24, the Crimson Tide had won 33 straight. Since that game, Alabama has gone 3-1.
With such a record this season, the Crimson Tide have some of the top statistical rankings in the country. As a team, Alabama currently leads the SEC in home runs per game and win/loss percentage, while coming in second in stolen bases per game. The Crimson Tide sixth in the nation in home runs per game at 1.55, second in the NCAA in win/loss percentage at 0.947 and 11th in the country in stolen bases per game at 2.24.
Individually, freshman pitcher Montana Fouts leads Alabama from the circle with a 12-1 record with 10 complete games and 111 strikeouts, coming in with the fifth best ERA nationally and best ERA in the SEC at 1.05. Along with Fouts, junior pitcher Sarah Cornell also poses a threat from the circle with a 1.94 ERA, 53 strikeouts and five complete games as she has compiled 14 wins and without a loss on the season, a mark that ranks second in the SEC and 18th in the NCAA. At the plate, junior utility player Bailey Hemphill leads the country and SEC in RBI with 54 on the year. Part of that record comes from the Lafayette, La., native knocking 16 home runs on the season as well, which marks third in the nation and second in the SEC. Kaylee Tow is also an impact player for the Crimson Tide with a bat in her hand as she leads the team with a 3.72 batting average and 10 doubles to go with her .723 slugging percentage and .567 on-base percentage.
In the all-time series between the two, Alabama is currently undefeated with 24 wins. The Blazers fell 8-0 in the most recent contest between the two earlier this season.
UAB will stay on the road next as they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to take on Middle Tennessee in another weekend conference series. The Blazers and Blue Raiders will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, then wrap up the series on Sunday. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. start time for game two on Saturday. The series finale is set to begin at noon on Sunday.
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, women's basketball 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).
Players Mentioned
Coffee with Coach | 2025 Week 6
Tuesday, September 30
Coffee with Coach | 2025 Week 8
Monday, September 29
Coffee with Coach | 2025 Week 7
Monday, September 29
The Rewind: Week 1 - Alabama State
Monday, September 29