Blazers Return to Mary Bowers Field With Shutout Win

Friday, April 28

Mary Bowers Field

5 PM

UAB

26-21, 13-6

University of Texas at El Paso

11-29, 2-17

UTEP

UAB

Blazers Return to Mary Bowers Field With Shutout Win

4/28/2023 9:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM – UAB Softball secured a second consecutive shutout and fifth consecutive win on the evening in game one of the UTEP Series. The Blazers, who arrived at Mary Bowers Field to fans, alumni and UAB Softball Matriarch Marla Townsend, secured the 6-0 win.

"Good start to a big series for us," said head coach AJ Daugherty. "Glad to see our offense get going. Good outing from Leigha Kirby and clean defense behind her. We need to focus and bring the same approach throughout the weekend."

The Blazers finished a hit shy of double digits in their victory with no errors throughout the competition. The Green and Gold improved to 26-21 and 13-6 in conference play.

UAB (6) UTEP (0)
The Blazers and Miners started the game with a pitcher's duel between UTEP's Calderon and Leigha Kirby. UAB and UTEP went hitless before a single from Allyson Smith in the second sparked the offense. The Blazers continued to hold the Miners to no hits through the third, while a leadoff double from Lauren Brock broke the ice to get the Blazers' in a scoring rhythm.

An RBI double from Bella Wiggins sent Brock across home plate to put the score at 1-0. A sac fly from Lindsey Smith followed to send Wiggins across home, increasing the score to two runs.

In the top of the fourth, the Miners broke the hitting drought with a bunt single but did not capitalize due to the Blazer defense. The Green and Gold tallied up three outs to bring the game to the latter half of the game. UAB capitalized on a walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt to put pinch runner Makenna Cortez in scoring position. Cortez eventually crossed home after a throwing error to put the score at 3-0.

The Green and Gold added two more runs after an RBI single from Hannah Miles and a RBI double from Wiggins to send Miles across home plate. The Blazers had a score of 5-0 entering the fifth inning, holding UTEP to one hit. Another hit put UTEP on base, but the Blazers stopped the Miners from advancing bases to prevent a run.

Entering the sixth inning, the Miners were able to deliver a double to put a UTEP runner on base but were unsuccessful after a double play brought the Blazers to bat. UAB saw a single from Alyssa Aguilar, followed by another single and an advance on an error to allow pinch runner Kaily Collett to score the final run of the game.

IN THE BOX

Leigha Kirby added another shutout win under her belt. She totaled four strikeouts on the day.
Three Blazers finished the day with a multi-hit game; Lauren Brock led the team in hits with three.
UAB's defense has gone four consecutive games with a double-play

UP NEXT
The Blazers return to action on Saturday, April 29 for the second game of the UTEP series. First pitch at Mary Bowers Field starts at noon.

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