Blazers Fall to FAU in C-USA Elimination Round

Friday, May 12

Ruston, LA

9 AM

UAB

29-24, 16-9

Florida Atlantic University

35-19, 16-9

FAU

UAB

Blazers Fall to FAU in C-USA Elimination Round

5/12/2023 2:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

RUSTON – UAB Softball concluded their run at the 2023 C-USA Softball Tournament in the elimination round against Florida Atlantic. The Blazers and Owls were scheduled to play at 7:30 PM Thursday, however inclement weather moved the game to Friday morning.

The Green and Gold found themselves in the lead for most of the game before giving up three runs to put FAU ahead and eventually land the 5-3 win. UAB concludes the tournament run with a 29-25 record.

UAB (3) FAU (5)
The Blazers began the game with starting pitcher Caitlin Russell landing a strikeout to begin the inning. Following the strikeout, the Owls tallied a base hit, followed by a fielder's choice to keep the Owls on base. Following the fielder's choice, an RBI double to right center sent an Owl across home plate.

With the score 1-0 in the direction of FAU, the Blazers responded with two hits of their own: a single from Sierra Frazier and another base hit from Olivia Valbak to put two Blazers on base. Lindsey Smith approached the plate delivering a hit, but it landed in the glove of FAU's first baseman. In the top of the second, Russell delivered another strikeout, followed by a groundout to Valbak to get the first two outs of the second. The Owls responded with a double but were unable to capitalize.

With the score still at 1-0 through the top of the third, the Blazers found an opening with a bunt single from Bella Wiggins. Frazier followed up with another single and Valbak sent a sac bunt to advance the two runners. With Frazier and Wiggins on second and third, Lindsey Smith delivered an RBI double to send Wiggins and Fraziers across home. Another run followed, sending Lindsey Smith across home to put the Blazers up 3-1.

After a three-up-three-down in the top and a scoreless bottom in the fourth, Florida Atlantic went on a hit-streak, starting with a leadoff single. After a lineout, the Owls delivered back-to-back singles to load the bases. A wild pitch would be the determining factor to give another run for FAU.

The Blazers relieved Caitlin Russell in the circle and entered Leigha Kirby. UAB then went hitless in the bottom of the fifth and outed three batters in the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, the sole hit came from a single from Hannah Miles but would not score.

With a final inning on the line, the Blazers maintained the 3-2 lead before a bout of rain arrived. After a walk put two runners on base, a triple moved the momentum into the favor of the Owls with two runners crossing home and one scoring on a throwing error.

The bottom of the seventh saw a one-out single from Frazier, putting her on base. The Green and Gold would be unable to capitalize and fell 3-5.

IN THE BOX

Sierra Frazier finished with three hits on the day.
Lindsey Smith led the team in RBIs with two, including an RBI double.
Leigha Kirby and Caitlin Russell combined for five strikeouts on the day.
The Blazers and Owls combined for double-digit hits on the day.

A YEAR IN REVIEW

The Blazers finished with a second-place seed after being selected to finish fifth.
UAB had six athletes represented in the C-USA All-Conference Team. In addition to their six conference honors, Sierra Frazier and head coach AJ Daugherty finished with Player and Coach of the Year.
Frazier finished her career with 177 RBIs, the most in UAB program history and fourth in C-USA history.
Freshman Caitlin Russell finished with double-digit wins on the season with 10.

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