The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Florida State
Softball Drops Doubleheader To Florida State
4/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2002
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Twenty-first-ranked Florida State (36-13) swept a doubleheader from UAB (27-15, 7-5 Conference USA), winning game one 9-0 and taking game two 5-3, in softball action at the Seminole softball complex.
In the first game, Florida State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Left fielder Monique Marier singled to right field and third baseman Becky Brock singled on a sharply hit ball to the shortstop. Both players advanced a base on a passed ball by Amanda Ellis. Then, with two outs, designated player Shandra Colzie reached on a fielder's choice and Marier scored before Brock was put out by shortstop Candice Hithe.
Florida State exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third inning. Shortstop Tatiana George tripled to left field to start the inning. After running the count to two balls and one strike to right fielder Shundra Colzie, Kelli Thompson came on in relief of starting pitcher Megan Stephenson. Colzie then walked. George then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by center fielder Jessica van der Linden to put the Seminoles up 2-0. Colzie then advanced to second on a throwing error by Ellis. Second baseman Brandi Stuart walked. Colzie then scored on another throwing error by Ellis and Stuart advanced to second. Catcher Kimmy Carter followed with a walk. Marier then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left field. First baseman Beth Wade followed with another home to left field that put Florida State up 7-0.
The Seminoles added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. van der Linden led off the inning with a single up the middle. Stuart then tripled to left field, allowing van der Linden to score. Carter followed with a walk. Marier then got her fourth RBI of the game, as she reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Stuart to score her second run of the game.
After UAB failed to score in the top of the fifth inning, the game was called due NCAA Division I softball's "eight-run rule."
Leslie Malerich (21-9) had a complete game shutout for Florida State. She threw five innings, struck out five and allowed only three hits. Stephenson (9-7) took the loss for UAB. She pitched two innings, allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits. Thompson threw two innings in relief and allowed seven runs on five hits.
UAB struck first in game two in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded, pitcher Kerri Foster was hit by a van der Linden pitch, allowing left fielder Cliffanie Engram to score.
Florida State answered in the bottom of the first inning. van der Linden tripled to left field, scoring George. Stuart followed with a triple to center field and scored on a throwing error by second baseman Beth Mullins. Florida State led 3-1.
van der Linden got her third RBI of the day, as she tripled down the right field line, scoring Shundra Colzie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Florida State led 4-1.
UAB answered in the top of the sixth inning on a two-run homer to center field by third baseman Aimee Vaughn.
Shandra Colzie reached on a throwing error by Vaughn that allowed Skyla Cox, who was pinch running for Wade, to score the Seminoles' final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With runners on first and second, two outs and Florida State leading 5-3, Malerich, who had come on in relief of van der Linden in the top of the sixth inning, struck out Foster to preserve the win for the Seminoles.
van der Linden (12-4) picked up the win for Florida State. She worked five and two-thirds innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. She walked none and struck out five. Malerich, who picked up her second save of the season, pitched one and one-thirds innings of relief. She allowed no runs on no hits, walked one and struck out four.
Foster (10-6) had her 11th complete game of the season and took the loss for UAB. She worked six innings and allowed five runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits. She walked two and struck out four.
UAB next travels to Tampa for a three-game Conference USA series with South Florida. The Blazers will face South Florida in a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. (ET). The final game of the series will be Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET).
