Blazers Fall to UNT in C-USA Quarterfinals

Thursday, May 11

Ruston, LA

4 PM

UAB

29-24, 16-9

North Texas

34-21, 17-8

North Texas

UAB

Blazers Fall to UNT in C-USA Quarterfinals

5/11/2023 10:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RUSTON – UAB Softball fell to UNT with a late three-run homer on Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Softball Tournament. The Blazers, who lost 2-3 to the Mean Green, sit at a record of 29-24 overall.

The meeting between the two was the fourth overall. The game, which was delayed by four hours due to inclement weather, saw the Green and Gold tallying six hits and one error. UAB will play in the elimination bracket on Friday morning.

GAME 1: UAB (2) UNT (3)
The game began with the Blazers keeping UNT at bay in the top of the first, leaving one stranded after being hit by a pitch. In the bottom of the first, the Green and Gold started out with a strong showing, with Bella Wiggins delivering a one-out triple to threaten a run. Sierra Frazier followed up with a hit of her own to send Wiggins across home to give UAB the early 1-0 lead.

The Blazers and Mean Green continued to have a defensive outing between the two, with a three-up-three-down in the second and third to bring the game to the top of the fourth, where UNT delivered a leadoff bunt single. After a flyball fell into the hands of Lilly Crowe, North Texas tacked on a stolen base to put the Mean Green in scoring position. Leigha Kirby followed up by striking out the next batter, while Crowe got another grab to bring the Blazers up to bat.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Blazers started the inning with a walk for Frazier. After Kaily Collett entered as a pinch runner for Frazier, Olivia Valbak followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Collett to second. After a flyball out to left center, Mackenzie Droddy sent an RBI double to right center to give Kaily Collett the scoring run.

With UAB leading 2-0, the Blazers held UNT to zero through the fifth. However, the Blazers left one stranded on second before entering inning six. With back-to-back singles for UNT, two runners stood on base before a three-run homer from Gamble put the Mean Green up 3-2.

With the Blazers trailing by one run in the bottom of the sixth, two early outs came in for UAB before Lindsey Smith sent a single up the middle. After Smith's single, Droddy followed up with another single. Nothing would come of the hitting rally as Crowe grounded out to third to bring the game to the last inning.

Kirby gave up one runner after a walk; however, the defense kept UNT at bay as the bottom of the seventh served as the final opportunity for UAB to score. The Blazers landed Hannah Miles on first after a walk before a fielder's choice advanced Miles to second, who reached safely after the second baseman was not planted on base. With two Blazers on base, UAB had another chance to score, but were unsuccessful after a flyball out and a foulball out.

UP NEXT
The Blazers return to action on Friday morning to take on the FAU Owls in the elimination bracket. First pitch is set for 9 AM at Billy Bundrick field.

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2023 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
For all C-USA Tournament information, check out the C-USA Championship Central Page.