Daugherty Collects First Career Win for UAB Softball at Cowgirl Classic

Friday, February 10

Lake Charles, LA

10 AM

UAB

0-1

University of Central Arkansas

1-0

UCA

UAB

Daugherty Collects First Career Win for UAB Softball at Cowgirl Classic

2/10/2023 8:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LAKE CHARLES – It was a day of firsts for the Blazers as they completed the first day of the McNeese State Cowgirl Classic Friday afternoon. The Green and Gold, led by head coach AJ Daugherty, collected their first win of the season and Daugherty's first career win as head coach of the Blazers.

UAB split with an 8-0 win over Texas Southern after dropping the season opener to Central Arkansas 3-6.

"It feels great. It feels good to get that first day behind you and get your first at-bats and first innings in the circle. I thought we let the first game jitters get to us a little bit in the first game, but then I was pleased to see the team bounce back offensively and in the circle." said AJ Daugherty on UAB's performance on day one of the tournament.

GAME ONE: UAB (3) - UCA (6)
The Blazers started out swinging in the first inning, with a run from Bella Wiggins to put the Blazers on the scoreboard first. UCA responded with a run of their own to tie it up in the second, causing the momentum to shift in the direction of the Bears.

The Bears continued to add to the score with a series of runs in the third to increase the lead from 1-1 to 6-1. The Blazers responded with an RBI double from Lindsey Smith to close the gap from a five-run difference to a three-run difference.

UAB would not get a chance to score again for the duration of the game however the Bears would not score again after pitcher Leigha Kirby stepped to the circle. The Blazers closed out with a loss of 3-6.

GAME TWO: UAB (8) - TxSU (0)
UAB opened up the second game of the day similar to the first: with a stolen base, this time from Lauren Brock. The Green and Gold were on track to score and soon did so with a single from Sierra Frazier to tally two RBIs at the top of the fourth. The Blazers added to the score with a triple from Kaily Collett, resulting in an RBI.

Frazier built off the performance with another triple in the fourth to put UAB up 5-0. The Blazers added two more runs in the top of the fifth courtesy of a single to center field from Wiggins. The final run came from Wiggins at the top of the seventh, giving the Blazers their first win of the season.

UAB totaled 14 hits, with four coming from Wiggins. Frazier was not too far behind with three hits and three RBIs. The Green and Gold finished with two doubles, two triples, and two stolen bases.

IN THE BOX

UAB finished with three stolen bases on day one of the McNeese State Cowgirl Classic
Leigha Kirby totaled three strikeouts in her debut as a Blazer, and Caitlin Russell tallied four
The Blazers averaged a hitting percentage of .323 and a fielding percentage of .967

QUOTES FROM AJ DAUGHERTY
(on UCA) "Just in the circle… Getting ahead in the count– free bases walks, hit-by-pitches… and then at the plate. I think we were limited to three hits in that first game and I know we're better than that offensively. Making sure we're going up there with a plan and a chance to be more successful at the plate. We're better than three hits."

(on TxSU) "I was impressed with the 14 hits we put up in game two against what I believe is a really good Texas Southern team. But overall a good day, I would've liked to see us be a little more consistent in that first game but I'm glad to have that behind us and under our belt and move forward."

UP NEXT
The Blazers return to action on Saturday against the Idaho State Bengals and revisit the Central Arkansas Bears. The first game starts at 10 AM, while game two follows at 3 PM.

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