The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, April 6
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2 P.M.
UAB
at
Middle Tennessee
Blazers Prepare for Weekend Series at Middle Tennessee
4/5/2019 2:59:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB softball team will head north over the weekend to take on Middle Tennessee for its next conference series at Blue Raider Softball Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn. 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. There will not be a live stream during the series, but live stats will be provided through Sidearm.
UAB (14-21, 4-8 C-USA) comes into the series following a tough outing at No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday. Despite the outcome, sophomore catcher Sarah Crawford led the Blazers at the plate as the designated player, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Prior to Wednesday's action, UAB had won each of its last two conference series over Florida Atlantic and UTEP, 2-1. The Blazers also picked up a 9-3 midweek victory over Jacksonville State in between the two series.
UAB has held some of the best batting numbers in the conference throughout the season. After leading the conference in batting average and doubles per game a few weeks straight, the Blazers are second in the conference and currently rank No. 41 in the nation in batting average at .304. UAB continues to lead the conference in doubles per game and comes in at No. 21 in the country at 1.71 doubles per game as well. Individually, sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski is third in the conference and 20th in the NCAA in triples on the season with four to date.
Middle Tennessee (22-16, 6-3 C-USA) will host the Blazers after winning a midweek contest over UT Martin last Wednesday, 2-0, and its most recent series at Charlotte, 2-1. The Blue Raiders and 49ers split the series-opening doubleheader as Middle Tennessee edged Charlotte, 6-5, in game one, then the 49ers bounced back to win game two, 9-2. The Blue Raiders clinched the series the following day with a 7-4 win in the series finale. With the win, Middle Tennessee has won two out of its three conference series this season, previously sweeping FIU and losing two of three to UTSA.
Individually, the Blue Raiders have multiple players with conference-leading numbers. Junior infielder Summer Burgess leads the squad with a .346 batting average and sits atop the conference and ranks 40th in the NCAA in hits with 46 on the season. Junior first baseman Lexi Cushing brings the power, leading the conference in home runs after knocking 11 this season to rank No. 28 in the nation currently. Cushing is also first in the conference in total bases with 74 on the season, coming in at No. 69 in the NCAA for that mark as well. Meanwhile, junior infielder Sydney Heath has exceled in making timely contact, ranking first in the conference and 11th in the nation in sacrifice hits with 0.28 per game currently.
In the circle, sophomore Amber Baldwin has posted the best ERA by a Blue Raider this season at 2.38, going 5-1 on the season and totaling 43 punch outs in 13 appearances with 11 starts.
In the all-time series, Middle Tennessee currently holds a 9-6 lead. The Blue Raiders took the first meeting between the two, coming out with an 8-0 win on April 1, 2001. The Blue Raiders also took the most recent contest last season, downing the Blazers in the conference tournament, 11-6, on May 10, 2018. There have only been two three-game series for the two squads as they split with UAB taking the most recent series, 2-1.
The Blazers will stay on the road next as they head to Oxford, Miss., to take on No. 22 Ole Miss (25-9, 5-3 SEC) in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The game will be streamed on the SEC Network+, and live stats will be provided through Sidearm.
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 (14-21, 4-8 C-USA) comes into the series following a tough outing at No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday. Despite the outcome, sophomore catcher Sarah Crawford led the Blazers at the plate as the designated player, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Prior to Wednesday's action, UAB had won each of its last two conference series over Florida Atlantic and UTEP, 2-1. The Blazers also picked up a 9-3 midweek victory over Jacksonville State in between the two series.
UAB has held some of the best batting numbers in the conference throughout the season. After leading the conference in batting average and doubles per game a few weeks straight, the Blazers are second in the conference and currently rank No. 41 in the nation in batting average at .304. UAB continues to lead the conference in doubles per game and comes in at No. 21 in the country at 1.71 doubles per game as well. Individually, sophomore outfielder Jenna Olszewski is third in the conference and 20th in the NCAA in triples on the season with four to date.
Middle Tennessee (22-16, 6-3 C-USA) will host the Blazers after winning a midweek contest over UT Martin last Wednesday, 2-0, and its most recent series at Charlotte, 2-1. The Blue Raiders and 49ers split the series-opening doubleheader as Middle Tennessee edged Charlotte, 6-5, in game one, then the 49ers bounced back to win game two, 9-2. The Blue Raiders clinched the series the following day with a 7-4 win in the series finale. With the win, Middle Tennessee has won two out of its three conference series this season, previously sweeping FIU and losing two of three to UTSA.
Individually, the Blue Raiders have multiple players with conference-leading numbers. Junior infielder Summer Burgess leads the squad with a .346 batting average and sits atop the conference and ranks 40th in the NCAA in hits with 46 on the season. Junior first baseman Lexi Cushing brings the power, leading the conference in home runs after knocking 11 this season to rank No. 28 in the nation currently. Cushing is also first in the conference in total bases with 74 on the season, coming in at No. 69 in the NCAA for that mark as well. Meanwhile, junior infielder Sydney Heath has exceled in making timely contact, ranking first in the conference and 11th in the nation in sacrifice hits with 0.28 per game currently.
In the circle, sophomore Amber Baldwin has posted the best ERA by a Blue Raider this season at 2.38, going 5-1 on the season and totaling 43 punch outs in 13 appearances with 11 starts.
In the all-time series, Middle Tennessee currently holds a 9-6 lead. The Blue Raiders took the first meeting between the two, coming out with an 8-0 win on April 1, 2001. The Blue Raiders also took the most recent contest last season, downing the Blazers in the conference tournament, 11-6, on May 10, 2018. There have only been two three-game series for the two squads as they split with UAB taking the most recent series, 2-1.
The Blazers will stay on the road next as they head to Oxford, Miss., to take on No. 22 Ole Miss (25-9, 5-3 SEC) in a midweek matchup on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The game will be streamed on the SEC Network+, and live stats will be provided through Sidearm.
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
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