The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
University of Central Arkansas
UAB Softball Opens Up 2023 Season at Cowgirl Classic
2/9/2023 10:00:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – The Blazers open up the 2023 season on the road as they travel to Lake Charles, La. for the McNeese State Cowgirl Classic, hosted by the McNeese State Cowgirls.
"Our team is rare and we are ready to play against someone in different colors. We need to be mindful that the season is a marathon and not a sprint," said head coach AJ Daugherty. "Each game is a learning opportunity that we hope to grow from and improve each time we play. I want them to compete and do what we do."
The Blazers take the field Friday, Feb. 10 against Central Arkansas, followed by an afternoon matchup against Texas Southern. UAB returns to Cowgirl Diamond versus Idaho State and UCA on Saturday, before battling tournament host McNeese on Sunday.
UAB came off a 25-24 run in 2022, finishing fourth in C-USA West. Over the summer, the team welcomed Daugherty, Associate Head Coach Sallie Beth Burch, and Assistant/Pitching coach Mollie Hanson.
The roster brings new and old faces, including an incoming recruiting class from Louisville to Daugherty's old stomping grounds at Wallace State.
FRIDAY
UAB (0-0) v. Central Arkansas (0-0)
Feb. 10 | Joe Miller Field | Lake Charles, La. | 10 AM
LIVE STATS
UAB (0-0) v. Texas Southern (0-0)
Feb. 10 | Joe Miller Field | Lake Charles, La. | 3 PM
LIVE STATS
SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Bears came off a 37-2 overall and 17-7 ASUN Conference record under the direction of Raymond Bright Coach of the Year, Jenny Parsons. Their postseason concluded in the National Invitational Softball Championship with a 0-1 loss to UNLV.
On the roster, Tremere Harris enters year three with UCA, hitting .391 and leading the team in batting in 2022. She was named First-Team All-ASUN, starting all 58 games as a sophomore. Joining Harris on the First-Team roster is Mary Kate Brown. Brown tallied up back-to-back postseason honors and finished the season with a fourth-place ranking in batting with .356 off 58 hits.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Texas Southern finished with a 26-20 record overall and a 21-3 SWAC campaign. The Tigers run ended in the SWAC championship, where they lost to Alabama State, followed by Jackson State in the consolation round.
TSU's Jazmine Gendorf is a player to watch for entering the Cowgirl Classic. Gendorf was named SWAC Softball Pitcher of the Year after a solid campaign last season, tying for first in total wins with 14. Striking out 71 batters, she tallied a 2.37 ERA in the regular season and received a First-Team nod at the close of 2022.
SATURDAY
UAB (0-0) v. Idaho State (0-0)
Feb. 11 | Joe Miller Field | Lake Charles, La. | 10 AM
LIVE STATS
UAB (0-0) v. Central Arkansas (0-0)
Feb. 11 | Joe Miller Field | Lake Charles, La. | 3 PM
LIVE STATS
SCOUTING THE BENGALS
The Bengals completed their 2022 campaign with a 25-27 record overall, partnered with an 8-10 record in Big Sky play. Idaho State had an impressive schedule competing against BYU and GCU.
Their season ended with a loss to Portland State, but they finished the season second in batting (.292). Senior Angelica Cano closed out the 2022 season with a second-place spot in runs scored with 48. Cano closed the season with a Big Sky honorable mention nod in the postseason.
SUNDAY
UAB (0-0) v. McNeese State (0-0)
Feb. 12 | Joe Miller Field | Lake Charles, La. | 12:30 PM
LIVE STATS
SCOUTING THE COWGIRLS
UAB has met with McNeese State five times, with the last meeting resulting in a 3-4 loss for the Blazers. Of the five meetings, the Blazers have two wins to the Cowgirls' three.
McNeese finished 40-21, clinching the hardware in the Southland Conference Tournament last year. In addition to the Conference Championship, the Cowgirls came off an impressive campaign in 2022. McNeese had eight athletes receive conference honors in 2022, including three superlatives. They closed out the season with their first regional final in program history.
QUOTES FROM AJ DAUGHERTY
"You want to be tested in road environments, and we look forward to this weekend. Our energy and focus need to be consistent regardless of the venue and we will have the opportunity to see that this weekend."
"As always, it is our job to put our team in the best position to be successful. We have been watching film and reviewing data to, hopefully, allow us to make informed decisions for the weekend competitions."
KEEP UP WITH UAB SOFTBALL
To keep up with UAB Softball, follow @UAB_SB on Instagram and Twitter. For game previews, stories, and more, check our UAB Softball home page.
2022-23 GOLD CARD
Softball season tickets are currently available by purchasing the 2022-23 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card will allow you to gain access to all home events for Women's Basketball, as well as Women's Soccer, Men's Soccer, Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball. Fans can purchase a Gold Card by clicking here or calling the UAB Athletics Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1. For questions, email tickets@uab.edu.
