Allyson Smith Delivers Series Clinching Walk-Off RBI Over LaTech

Friday, April 7

Mary Bowers Field

1 PM

UAB

21-18, 9-6

Louisiana Tech

23-17, 5-7

LATECH

UAB

Allyson Smith Delivers Series Clinching Walk-Off RBI Over LaTech

4/7/2023 6:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM – UAB Softball concluded the Louisiana Tech series in dramatic fashion, with the team's third walk-off of the season at Mary Bowers Field. The Blazers clinched the series with an 8-7 win over LaTech to increase their overall record to 21-18 and conference record to 9-6.

"Big series win for our program," said head coach AJ Daugherty. "After a rocky start to the game, our team fought to climb back in it. Proud to see us fight when our backs were against the wall."

UAB (8) LaTech (7)
The meeting between the two teams went for blows early, with Louisiana Tech striking first with a homer to right field to put the Lady Techsters up with an early 1-0 lead. The Blazers responded with a tying RBI single from Olivia Valbak, sending Bella Wiggins across home plate. The Blazers scored a second consecutive RBI single from Sierra Frazier to give the Blazers their first lead of the game.

Entering the second, the Lady Techsters tallied two hits, one of which came from a single to right center to threaten a run. UAB allowed an RBI after a fielding error to tie the score up at two apiece at the top of the second. Louisiana Tech added two more runs in the top of the third to increase the scoring margin to 4-2.

Leigha Kirby then entered the circle for UAB following a fielding error and singled up the middle from Louisiana Tech. The Lady Techsters added two more runs to increase the lead to 6-2. UAB looked to respond in the bottom of the third with a walk putting Frazier on base, while Valbak sent a single to threaten a run to put the Blazers' offense back on track.

The momentum shifted when Lilly Crowe delivered 2RBI double to send Frazier and Valbak across home plate. The Blazers continued the defensive efforts in the fourth and were able to tie it up at six apiece with a homer from Wiggins. Louisiana Tech continued to flex their offensive power, with another RBI single to regain the lead in the top of the fifth.

The final two innings saw defensive efforts on both ends, with LaTech trying once more to secure a run in the seventh. It proved unsuccessful, giving the Green and Gold a chance to make something happen. After a single from Lauren Brock and an RBI double from Sierra Frazier to tie, the Blazers entered Kaily Collett as a pinch runner.

Valbak then intentionally walked, with two runners on base and one in scoring position. Freshman Allyson Smith came to bat with the hit the Blazers needed to secure the win: an RBI single to give the Blazers the walk-off win and series win over Louisiana Tech.

IN THE BOX

The Blazers tallied their third walk-off of the season. This is the first from Allyson Smith, while the other came from Olivia Valbak (Samford, FIU).
UAB tallied 11 hits on the day. Two ladies in Green and Gold would collect doubles: Sierra Frazier and Lilly Crowe.
Leigha Kirby collected her fourth win, striking out five batters in the process.

UP NEXT
The Blazers travel to Fayetteville, Ark., where they take on the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks for a three-game series starting April 14 at 6 PM.

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