The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Down Bulldogs 3-1
4/19/2023 9:16:00 PM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB Softball completes the evening at Samford with a 3-1 win over their crosstown rival. The Blazers totaled nine hits, three runs and no errors at Samford Softball field in Birmingham.
"It always feels good to get a win against a crosstown opponent. I thought our energy improved after a flat start," said head coach AJ Daugherty. "Caitlin Russell did a nice job in settling the waters and giving us a good outing in relief."
The Green and Gold sits at a record of 22-21 as they close out their final mid-week matchup of the 2023 season.
UAB (3) Samford (1)
The Blazers started with three quick outs to bring them to the bottom of the first. UAB then gave up a hit with the first Samford batter, followed by a sacrifice bunt to threaten a run. The Blazers prevented any scoring runs after Lilly Crowe got a flyball out.
The second inning mirrored the first with a three-up-three-down for the Blazers. The Green and Gold would then have a defensive clinic in the bottom with the bases loaded. Olivia Valbak threw to Sierra Frazier, who tagged the runner at home to get out one. The Blazers repeated the play with Alyssa Aguilar throwing to Frazier again to keep the Bulldogs off the board. The final out came from Cespedes, who struck out Pate.
UAB was unable to capitalize on offense in the third, and Samford responded with a homer to left field to give the Bulldogs the early 1-0 lead. The Blazers responded in the top of the fourth with a single up the middle from Lauren Brock, followed by a stolen base. Sierra Frazier then put the Blazers on the board with an RBI double. Lilly Crowe followed up after Valbak to hit a two-out RBI single to center, giving UAB the first lead of the night.
The Blazers held Samford to one run, leaving three runners on base for the remainder of the game. UAB allowed one hit from the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth before entering Freshman Allyson Smith as a pinch hitter for the Green and Gold in the seventh. Smith delivered a single to left field, followed by another single from Lindsey Smith to put two Blazers on base. The final run came from Aguilar, who hit an RBI single to send Makenna Cortez (pinch runner) across home plate.
IN THE BOX
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The Blazers totaled nine hits on the day. Lauren Brock and Alyssa Aguilar finished with multi-hit games for the Green and Gold.
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UAB left three runners on base to Samford's 10
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Brock finished with her tenth stolen base of the season.
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Caitlyn Russell tallied her seventh win of the season.
UP NEXT
UAB travels to San Antonio, where they take on the UTSA Roadrunners from Friday April 21 to Sunday, April 23.
"We have a big weekend series ahead of us and an opportunity to continue to grow." said Coach Daugherty.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Russell, Caitlin (7-2)
L: Jordyn Partain (3-9)

Batting:
2B: Frazier, Sierra 1
RBI: Frazier, Sierra 1 ; Crowe, Lilly 1 ; Aguilar, Alyssa 1
SH: Miles, Hannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brock, Lauren 1 ; Frazier, Sierra 1 ; Cortez, Makenna 1
SB: Brock, Lauren 1
CS: Wiggins, Bella 1

Batting:
HR: Logan Champion 1
RBI: Logan Champion 1
SH: Kinley Pate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Logan Champion 1