UAB Secures Game 1 Win over UTSA

Friday, April 21

San Antonio, TX

6 PM

UAB

23-21, 10-6

UTSA

8-33, 3-12

UAB

UTSA

UAB Secures Game 1 Win over UTSA

4/21/2023 10:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SAN ANTONIO – UAB Softball rallied back from a two-run deficit to secure the 4-3 win over UTSA at Roadrunner Field. The Blazers tallied five hits, and one error in the road win to bring them to a record of 23-21 and 10-6 in C-USA play.

"Road wins rarely come easy, and today was an example," said head coach AJ Daugherty. "After a rocky start Lindsey Smith stepped up and gave us the offensive spark we needed. Really proud to see Caitlin Russell come in and close the door for us in a big situation."

The Blazers are now 6-8 on the road sitting at third place in C-USA standings. Their win streak extends to two games, with the first coming from a meeting with Samford on Wednesday.

UAB (4) UTSA (3)
The Blazers and Roadrunners began the game with UAB landing two runners on base after two early outs. A walk for Sierra Frazier and a fielder's choice from Olivia Valbak threatened a scoring run for the Blazers. However, the Green and Gold left two stranded after a pop fly out to the UTSA shortstop. The Roadrunners quickly responded back with a leadoff solo homer to put the first run on the board.

In the second, UTSA added another homer to the score, putting the Blazers down two runs entering inning three. After a three-up-three-down in the top of the third for UAB, the Green and Gold held UTSA to only one runner on base at the conclusion of the inning with no hits on the board.

In the fourth, Valbak delivered a double to left center to jumpstart the Blazers' offense. Allyson Smith was hit by a pitch to put two Blazers on base, and Lindsey Smith catapulted the Blazers in front with a homer to left field. The Green and Gold gained their first lead of the night and closed out the inning with three runs and three hits and would allow only one hit for UTSA.

In the fifth, the Blazers earned back-to-back walks, putting Lauren Brock and Bella Wiggins in scoring position. Frazier then stepped to bat and delivered an RBI single to extend the lead to two runs over the Roadrunners. In the bottom of the fifth, the Blazers defense quickly put three up and three down to bring the game to the final two innings.

UAB and UTSA went scoreless in the sixth, but the seventh saw the Roadrunners give one last offensive effort. After a leadoff double to start the bottom half of the inning, another double sent a UTSA runner across home putting the score at 4-3. The Blazers then put Caitlin Russell in the circle, with the Blazers defense responding with a groundout, strikeout and foul ball out to end the game.

IN THE BOX

The Blazers were outhit seven hits to five, but the Green and Gold were able to leave six UTSA runners on base.
Caitlin Russell collected her second save of the season.
Leigha Kirby gets her fifth win of the season. She faced 27 batters through the duration of the game.
Lindsey Smith led the team in RBIs with three.

UP NEXT
The Blazers return to action on Saturday, April 22 at 1 o'clock to face UTSA for the final two games of the series. The first game starts at 1 PM, the second game will follow 30 to 45 mins after the conclusion of the first.

"We need to bring a different energy and focus to play our game. You have to win the ugly ones, and I'm glad to leave 1-0 today." said Coach Daugherty.

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