UAB Comes Up Short in Home Finale of Regular Season

Sunday, April 28

Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field

1 P.M.

UAB

15-30, 5-15

North Texas

32-16, 17-4

North Texas

UAB

UAB Comes Up Short in Home Finale of Regular Season

4/28/2019 5:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (15-30, 5-15 C-USA) fell to North Texas (32-16, 17-4 C-USA) in its final home game of the regular season, 5-1, on Sunday at Mary Bowers Field. The Blazers got off to an early, one-run lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a couple of hits from the top of the order, but North Texas climbed on top with a pair of runs in the top of the third and never looked back, adding three more in the next two innings to reach the final tally.

Junior outfielder Destini England continued her successful weekend in game three, going 2-for-4 and scoring UAB's lone run. Freshman outfielder Faith Hegh went 1-for-3 on the day, driving in England for an RBI on the hit.

The Blazers pitched by committee in the circle as junior Claire Blount, sophomore Bailie Barnes and freshman Sarah Cespedes all saw action. Blount got the start and took the loss, going three innings and giving up two runs on three hits with one strikeout. Barnes came in next, going two innings and giving up three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Cespedes then closed things out, going the final two innings and giving up just one hit with one strikeout.

North Texas threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases on a single and a pair of walks, but UAB was able to get out of the inning unscathed with a few putouts. The Blazers were able to cash in on their opportunities in the bottom of the frame as England picked up where she left off in the doubleheader with a leadoff single. After advancing to second on a groundout, freshman outfielder Faith Hegh cracked a hot shot down the left-field line for a double to score England. Sophomore catcher Sarah Crawford and freshman infielder Sierra Frazier each drew subsequent walks to load the bases, but UAB was unable to plate another run.

Blount retired the side in order in the top of the second by forcing a pair of putouts and picking up her first strikeout of the afternoon. The Blazers made some noise in the bottom of the second as England turned on the jets for a triple and junior infielder Ashton Clem was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, but UAB was unable to drive either home.

In the top of the third, the Mean Green broke through. After a single and a couple of Blazer miscues, North Texas cracked a two-RBI double to take a 2-1 lead. The Mean Green didn't add any more runs to their lead in the third, but UAB went down in order in the bottom of the inning to leave the Mean Green on top.

As Barnes relieved Blount to open the fourth, North Texas carried its momentum into the next inning, scoring another pair. The Mean Green drew an early walk and picked up a single to get started, then drove in both runners on another two-RBI double before UAB could close out the inning. The Blazers then went down in order to follow.

In the top of the fifth, North Texas added to its lead once more. Following another leadoff single and walk to start, another single combined with aggressive base running scored another to give the Mean Green a 5-1 lead. After getting out of the inning, Clem was dinged again, but that was all the Blazers managed in the bottom of the frame.

Cespedes replaced Barnes to open the sixth, knocking down the Mean Green in order to bring UAB back to the plate. Frazier picked up a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, but the Blazers did nothing beyond that.

North Texas stayed put in the top of the seventh as Cespedes picked up a strikeout while only allowing one hit, leaving the Blazers in need of four runs to extend the game with three outs remaining. UAB went down quietly though, falling 5-1 in the end.

The Blazers will next travel over the mountain for their final midweek contest of the regular season in another crosstown matchup with Samford (21-26, 10-4 SoCon) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Live streaming for the game will be provided through the SoCon Digital Network, and live stats will be available through Stat Broadcast. UAB took the prior matchup earlier in the season, 6-1, 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 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).