The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, April 27
Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field
3 P.M.
UAB
1
vs
3
North Texas
Blazers Drop a Pair in Doubleheader against North Texas
4/27/2019 9:07:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (15-29, 5-14 C-USA) was edged by North Texas (31-16, 16-4 C-USA) in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, falling 3-0 in each contest at Mary Bowers Field. The Blazers hung tough in both matchups, but were unable find a rhythm at the plate against a couple of the better pitchers in the conference, one leading the league in wins with 19.
In game one, UAB picked up five hits to North Texas' four, but the Blazers were unable to string many together, while the Mean Green took advantage of the few opportunities presented. In game two, North Texas stayed solid defensively throughout the game without giving UAB any chances to build momentum, maintaining control until the final out. Sophomore Emily Kachel, junior Claire Blount and freshman Sarah Cespedes each saw action in the circle throughout the day, while junior outfielder Destini England had a well-rounded day, going 4-for-6 at the plate and making two highlight-reel catches in center field.
Game One: North Texas 3, UAB 1
Neither side was able to get going in the first as England's infield single for the Blazers was the only hit of the inning. In the top of the second though, North Texas struck first. After a pair of walks, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to deep right field pushed in the first run of the day. A subsequent groundout would end the inning with a pair stranded for the Mean Green. UAB then put a pair on in the bottom of the frame as freshman outfielder Faith Hegh singled and freshman catcher Sierra Frazier drew a walk, but neither runner was driven home.
Kachel took care of business in the top of the third, picking up her second and third strikeouts of the day and forcing a pop out to strand another pair, ending the inning. England slapped another single in the bottom of the third, but that was the only offense for the Blazers in the frame.
After England continued her successful day by making a diving grab in right-center field, Cespedes replaced Kachel midway through the inning. UAB closed out the inning soon after with a quick putout and another diving grab, this time from junior infielder Dylinn Stancil, who bolted in to catch a shallow pop up. The Blazers wouldn't capitalize on their notable field play in the bottom of the fourth though, going down in order.
UAB returned the favor in the top of the fifth as Cespedes retired the side in order by forcing a pair of foul outs and a fly out. North Texas then made it three straight half innings retired in order as the Blazers came up empty in the bottom of the inning.
The Mean Green failed to get anything going in the top of the sixth as Frazier closed out the inning from the backstop by gunning down a runner attempting to steal second, but the Blazers went down in order again in the bottom of the sixth.
North Texas added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend its lead to 3-0. The Mean Green plated one run with an RBI double following a single, then scored the final run on a steal and a Blazer miscue.
Trailing three runs and down to three final outs, UAB didn't go down without a fight. Hegh got the Blazers started with a leadoff single, and sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski added another to put two on with no outs. After a fielder's choice pushed Hegh to third, another fielder's choice by Frazier sent home Hegh to chalk UAB's lone RBI. The Blazers' rally ended there as North Texas came through with the final putout.
Overall, Hegh had the best line at the plate for UAB, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Kachel went 3.1 innings with the start, giving up one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Cespedes went 3.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits in the final frame.
Game Two: North Texas 3, UAB 1
In game two, both sides were blanked for the first few innings. No hits were made for either team in the first, and North Texas added a pair of singles in the top of the second, but nothing more. Blount continued to take care of business in the top of the third, retiring the side in order, but the only noise by the Blazers in the bottom of the frame was a walk by junior outfielder Ashton Clem.
In the top of the fourth, the Mean Green bats woke up. After another difficult grab by England to open the inning, North Texas plated a pair with a two-RBI double after a single and a walk before UAB was able to close out the inning.
UAB responded in the bottom of the inning as England was able to put the Blazers on the board. After her leadoff single, England advanced to third on a groundout, setting up an Olszewski sacrifice fly to deep left field to draw the Blazers within a run.
North Texas jumped back to a two-run lead in the top of the fifth. The Mean Green put a pair on with a single and a walk, then managed to score on a groundout after a collision at first base allowed the runner at second to advance home. UAB wouldn't take any more damage in the inning, but also didn't deal any as Frazier was the only Blazer to reach base in the bottom of the frame.
Cespedes picked up a pair of strikeouts and forced a groundout to keep the Mean Green quiet in the top of the sixth, but a single from England was all UAB could muster at the plate. Cespedes next retired the side in order, bringing the Blazers to the plate needing a pair of scores and down to their final three outs. UAB was unable to create a spark this time, ultimately falling 3-1 once again.
England posted the best numbers from the plate in game two, going 2-for-3 and scoring the only run of the game for UAB along with making another brilliant grab in the outfield. Blount went four innings in the circle in her starting effort, giving up three runs on five hits with one strikeout. Cespedes entered in relief once again, going three hitless innings and picking up three strikeouts through her time in the circle.
The Blazers are scheduled to close out the series in their final home game of the regular season at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field.
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 the rest of the softball and baseball games in the 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, UAB picked up five hits to North Texas' four, but the Blazers were unable to string many together, while the Mean Green took advantage of the few opportunities presented. In game two, North Texas stayed solid defensively throughout the game without giving UAB any chances to build momentum, maintaining control until the final out. Sophomore Emily Kachel, junior Claire Blount and freshman Sarah Cespedes each saw action in the circle throughout the day, while junior outfielder Destini England had a well-rounded day, going 4-for-6 at the plate and making two highlight-reel catches in center field.
Game One: North Texas 3, UAB 1
Neither side was able to get going in the first as England's infield single for the Blazers was the only hit of the inning. In the top of the second though, North Texas struck first. After a pair of walks, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to deep right field pushed in the first run of the day. A subsequent groundout would end the inning with a pair stranded for the Mean Green. UAB then put a pair on in the bottom of the frame as freshman outfielder Faith Hegh singled and freshman catcher Sierra Frazier drew a walk, but neither runner was driven home.
Kachel took care of business in the top of the third, picking up her second and third strikeouts of the day and forcing a pop out to strand another pair, ending the inning. England slapped another single in the bottom of the third, but that was the only offense for the Blazers in the frame.
After England continued her successful day by making a diving grab in right-center field, Cespedes replaced Kachel midway through the inning. UAB closed out the inning soon after with a quick putout and another diving grab, this time from junior infielder Dylinn Stancil, who bolted in to catch a shallow pop up. The Blazers wouldn't capitalize on their notable field play in the bottom of the fourth though, going down in order.
UAB returned the favor in the top of the fifth as Cespedes retired the side in order by forcing a pair of foul outs and a fly out. North Texas then made it three straight half innings retired in order as the Blazers came up empty in the bottom of the inning.
The Mean Green failed to get anything going in the top of the sixth as Frazier closed out the inning from the backstop by gunning down a runner attempting to steal second, but the Blazers went down in order again in the bottom of the sixth.
North Texas added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to extend its lead to 3-0. The Mean Green plated one run with an RBI double following a single, then scored the final run on a steal and a Blazer miscue.
Trailing three runs and down to three final outs, UAB didn't go down without a fight. Hegh got the Blazers started with a leadoff single, and sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski added another to put two on with no outs. After a fielder's choice pushed Hegh to third, another fielder's choice by Frazier sent home Hegh to chalk UAB's lone RBI. The Blazers' rally ended there as North Texas came through with the final putout.
Overall, Hegh had the best line at the plate for UAB, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Kachel went 3.1 innings with the start, giving up one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Cespedes went 3.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits in the final frame.
Game Two: North Texas 3, UAB 1
In game two, both sides were blanked for the first few innings. No hits were made for either team in the first, and North Texas added a pair of singles in the top of the second, but nothing more. Blount continued to take care of business in the top of the third, retiring the side in order, but the only noise by the Blazers in the bottom of the frame was a walk by junior outfielder Ashton Clem.
In the top of the fourth, the Mean Green bats woke up. After another difficult grab by England to open the inning, North Texas plated a pair with a two-RBI double after a single and a walk before UAB was able to close out the inning.
UAB responded in the bottom of the inning as England was able to put the Blazers on the board. After her leadoff single, England advanced to third on a groundout, setting up an Olszewski sacrifice fly to deep left field to draw the Blazers within a run.
North Texas jumped back to a two-run lead in the top of the fifth. The Mean Green put a pair on with a single and a walk, then managed to score on a groundout after a collision at first base allowed the runner at second to advance home. UAB wouldn't take any more damage in the inning, but also didn't deal any as Frazier was the only Blazer to reach base in the bottom of the frame.
Cespedes picked up a pair of strikeouts and forced a groundout to keep the Mean Green quiet in the top of the sixth, but a single from England was all UAB could muster at the plate. Cespedes next retired the side in order, bringing the Blazers to the plate needing a pair of scores and down to their final three outs. UAB was unable to create a spark this time, ultimately falling 3-1 once again.
England posted the best numbers from the plate in game two, going 2-for-3 and scoring the only run of the game for UAB along with making another brilliant grab in the outfield. Blount went four innings in the circle in her starting effort, giving up three runs on five hits with one strikeout. Cespedes entered in relief once again, going three hitless innings and picking up three strikeouts through her time in the circle.
The Blazers are scheduled to close out the series in their final home game of the regular season at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field.
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 the rest of the softball and baseball games in the 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
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INF
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