Blazers Split Doubleheader Against LaTech

Thursday, April 6

Mary Bowers Field

10:30 AM

UAB

20-17, 8-5

Louisiana Tech

22-15, 4-5

LATECH

UAB

Blazers Split Doubleheader Against LaTech

4/6/2023 5:17:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score (PDF)Game 2 Box Score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM –UAB Softball concluded day one of the LaTech Series with a split result, defeating the Lady Techsters in game one and dropping game two. The Blazers now sit at a record of 20-18 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
"Another good outing from Leigha Kirby, solid defense and big hits gave us the win in game one," said head coach AJ Daugherty. "Game two was a bit of a struggle for us. We issued free passes, didn't play clean defense and left ten runners on base. Despite having a bunch of hits, we couldn't seem to get the ones we needed with runners in scoring position."

GAME ONE: UAB (4) LaTech (1)
The first game of the series started out with the Lady Techsters reaching first after being hit by a pitch from starting pitcher Leigha Kirby. They then had a fielder's choice to put another runner in position to find a scoring run but were left on base after a flyout and a strikeout following.

It was more of the same at the bottom of the first, with no runners crossing home plate, however LaTech tried their hand again at obtaining a run in the second and were unsuccessful. UAB was first to strike with a solo homer from Lindsey Smith to give the Blazers the lead.

After three up and three down in the top of the third, the Blazers delivered a single from Bella Wiggins to put one runner in Green and Gold on base. Sierra Frazier then delivered a 2RBI homer of her own to center field, extending the lead to 3-0. Another RBI came on a fielder's choice from Hannah Miles in the bottom of the fourth following a sacrifice bunt from Aguilar to send Lindsey Smith across home plate.

Entering the latter half of the game, the Blazers and Lady Techsters battled for hits. Louisiana Tech's Neel sent a double to right field to threaten a run, and Gonzalez hit an RBI single to give LaTech their first run in the sixth. After three-up-three-down at the bottom of the sixth, the Blazers put the game away after a popup to Lauren Brock to give UAB the first win.

GAME TWO: UAB (2) LaTech (5)
Entering the second game of the doubleheader, UAB and LaTech immediately started showing their offensive prowess. After an RBI single to right field from Neel in the top of the first, Sierra Frazier responded with an RBI single of her own to tie the score at one apiece. The Lady Techsters kept the momentum going in the second with another RBI single to allow a runner across home plate, increasing the score to 2-1.

The second through fifth inning went cold on offense before the Blazers breathed life into the offense with a sac bunt from Valbak to allow pinch runner Kaily Collett to advance to second. A single from Alyssa Aguilar would give Collett the green light to advance before Lilly Crowe approached to bat. A groundout to second pushed Collett across home and tied the score at two.

Louisiana Tech responded in the sixth with two RBI singles to extend the lead to two runs. The final scoring run came from a sac fly to extend the lead to three runs, and UAB trailed 2-5.

UAB looked to try once more to score, with Valbak sending a flyball shallow to center. Makenzie Droddy connected with a hit to right field, but it fell in the glove of the right fielder. Lindsey Smith would be the final out of the game with an out to third to split the doubleheader with a 2-5 loss.

IN THE BOX

The Blazers totaled 13 hits between both games. They were outhit in the win in game one and outhit the Lady Techsters in game two.
Lindsey Smith and Sierra Frazier hit back-to-back homers in a game at Mary Bowers for the second time this season. The first came against FIU.
Leigha Kirby landed her third win and second complete game in the books.

UP NEXT
The Blazers return to action tomorrow, April 7 to conclude the Louisiana Tech series at Mary Bowers Field. The game is scheduled for 1 PM.

"Louisiana Tech is a good team that is well coached. We will have to clean it up and execute if we want to win the series in tomorrow's rubber match," said Daugherty. "I believe we will."

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