Blazers Dominant in Season-Ending Sweep of Charlotte

Sunday, May 5

Charlotte, N.C.

9 a.m.

UAB

17-31, 0

Charlotte

15-34, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UAB	0	3	1	2	0	1	7	14	10	0
Charlotte	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	8	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UAB	0	0	1	0	7	0	8	16	17	0
Charlotte	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	5

Blazers Dominant in Season-Ending Sweep of Charlotte

5/5/2019 6:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The UAB softball team (19-31, 8-16 C-USA) outmatched Charlotte (15-35, 6-17 C-USA) in its final series of the season over the weekend, earning the sweep and taking the final two games on Sunday at Sue M. Daughtridge Field, 14-1 and 16-2, respectively. The Blazers outscored Charlotte 39-3 in the overall series.

UAB incrementally built its leads throughout the weekend, maintaining full control in games one and two, then briefly trailing early in game three before taking over and never letting up.

In game two, the Blazers only led the hitting margin 10-8, but capitalized on most of their opportunities as evidenced by their 14 RBI to the 49ers' one. In game three, UAB dominated across the board, leading Charlotte most notably in hits (17-5) and RBI (15-2).

On the day, UAB had three batters hit over .500 in junior infielder Ashton Clem (3-for-5), fellow junior infielder Natalie Erwin (5-for-10) and freshman outfielder Faith Hegh (4-for-8). Erwin led the squad in runs scored with five, while Hegh pegged the team RBI mark with eight on the day. All four of UAB's pitchers in junior Claire Blount, sophomores Emily Kachel and Bailie Barners, along with freshman Sarah Cespedes took some time in the circle, posting an overall ERA of 1.50 to go 2-0 with eight combined strikeouts.

Game Two: UAB 14, Charlotte 1

UAB climbed aboard first in the top of the second as sophomore center fielder Jenna Olszewski reached on a walk, and sophomore left fielder Sarah Crawford drew a walk to get things started. Both were driven in on a double by Blount to follow, and she was later driven home on an infield single by Erwin for the early, 3-0 lead.

The Blazers added another run in the top of the third as Sierra Frazier made her way around the bases after drawing a walk and was driven home on a sacrifice fly to left center by Olszewski. UAB's lead steadily continued to increase in the top of the fourth as Erwin reached on a fielder's choice and Clem drew a walk, setting up a two-RBI double by Hegh to put UAB up, 6-0. The double was No. 16 for Hegh on the year, cementing her at second in UAB history in doubles in a season.

Charlotte found some offense in the bottom of the fifth, breaking UAB's shutout with a run of its own. With two down, the 49ers strung together a couple of singles with a walk to get on the board. The Blazers got the run right back in the top of the sixth though as Natalie Erwin drew a walk and swiped second, putting her in position to score on a single by Clem and put UAB back up by six.

The Blazers blew the doors off the game in the top of the seventh, scoring as many runs in the inning as they had all game to double their total. Back-to-back doubles from Sierra Frazier and Olszewski got UAB started as Sierra Frazier came home on the latter. Crawford then singled and stole second, setting up Blount's two-RBI single up the middle to put UAB further in front, 10-1. The Blazers loaded the bases after that as Sadie Frazier walked, Erwin reached on a fielder's choice and Clem added an RBI single that scored Blount. Sierra Frazier then cleaned up the base path, blistering a three-RBI double to right center to put UAB well ahead for the final tally, 14-1.

At the plate, Clem was the most efficient as she reached base in each at-bat, going 2-for-2 while scoring two runs and adding two RBI to go with her three walks. Blount put in work in the circle and at the plate, going 2-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and four RBI. Sierra Frazier posted a similar solid stat line to Blount's as well with the exception of having three RBI instead of four.

Bailie Barnes got the start in the circle, going 2.1 innings and giving up no runs on three hits. Blount wrapped up the game from there, taking the win to finish with a 5-12 record on the season after giving up one run on five hits with two strikeouts.

Game Three: UAB 16, Charlotte 2

It was Charlotte that struck first in the season finale, showing its first sign of life in the series. The 49ers led off the bottom of the first with a single, and another single later drove in Charlotte's first run. Before UAB could close out the inning, the 49ers plated one more run on an RBI double to take an early, 2-0 advantage.

After both sides went down in order in the second, UAB responded with a run of its own in the top of the third. After freshman infielder Sadie Frazier reached on a fielder's choice, Erwin doubled and Clem walked, loading the bases for the Hegh. The scorching outfielder continued to produce, sending a sacrifice fly to dead center and scoring Sadie Frazier.

The two squads threatened in the fourth inning, but UAB broke the game open in the top of the fifth, scoring six in the inning alone. Clem led off the inning with a double, and Hegh singled to follow, earning an RBI and sending home Clem. Sierra Frazier next walked and Stancil singled shortly after to load the bases. Crawford then singled, Blount reached on a fielder's choice and Sadie Frazier also singled, scoring three more runs. Erwin next doubled to plate a pair, and Clem was hit by a pitch to set up another single for Hegh that picked up two RBI, giving the Blazers an 8-2 lead.

Kachel replaced Cespedes in the top of the sixth and didn't miss a beat, allowing the Blazers to put their final stamp on the game in the top of the seventh. Blount led the inning off with a double, and Sadie Frazier next reached on an error. Erwin singled soon after to load the bases, and Clem was hit by a pitch for the seventh time in five games to walk in a run. Hegh's third single of the afternoon scored another pair to put the Blazers up, 11-2. A Stancil single drove in Clem, a Crawford single drove in two more and Erwin's next single drove in another pair to put UAB well in control with a 14-run lead. Kachel picked up her second save of the season in the bottom of the seventh, completing UAB's 16-2 win.

Of the multiple impressive stat lines at the plate for the Blazers in game two, Erwin and Hegh led the way. Erwin had the best average at 4-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI. Meanwhile, Hegh tied Sierra Frazier's impressive mark from Saturday of six RBI, an all-time feat that hadn't been done since UAB's season opener in 2015 before the weekend. Hegh also went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

From the circle, Cespedes earned the start and the win in game three, finishing with a 7-7 record in 2019 after going four innings and giving up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Kachel wrapped up the final three innings for the save, giving up no hits or runs and adding three strikeouts as well.

The Blazers finish the 2019 season with a 19-31 overall record and 8-16 conference record. UAB will host the 2019 Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday, May 8, through Saturday, May 11, featuring the top three teams in each division and two wild card teams with the best remaining records. Seeding will be released on Sunday night by the Conference USA.

For more information on the UAB softball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter and Instagram (@UAB_SB).