The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Creighton
UAB Softball Team Sweeps Creighton
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 15, 2003
NORMAN, Okla.---The UAB softball team (4-3) swept the Creighton Bluejays 5-3 and 3-0 at the OU/NIKE Classic Saturday afternoon. With the sweep, the Blazers improved their performance here to three wins in four games after Friday's doubleheader split with No. 8-ranked Oklahoma.
Carrie Christophel and Kristin Stanfill each blasted a homerun during the two game series against the Creighton Bluejays (1-3). Stanfill also went two for three at the plate for the Blazers.
The Blazers braved the cold weather and rallied during the first inning with two outs when Cliffanie Engram walked and stole second base. Engram scored on an RBI double by Beth Mullins. Kelli Thompson then added an RBI single and advanced to second when Kris Lara walked. UAB finished the first inning with two runs and two hits 2-0.
Bluejays Stacey Rybar and Lauren Flores, both notched singles in the first inning. Abby Johnson reached on a fielder's choice and earned an RBI on the hit bringing the score to 2-1.
The Blazers added two more runs in the fourth inning when Carrie Christophel singled to right center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristin Stanfill. Hithe singled up the middle and advanced to second on a stolen base, eventually scoring on an error by second base. Carrie Christophel then scored on an error by the Bluejay catcher, Kari Shank. Sara Christophel then added a single to the mix and advanced to second on a steal. Engram recorded her first single of the day and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The Blazers notched two earned runs during the inning.
Creighton tried to make something happen in the second inning when Kari Shank singled to right centerfield. That was the only hit of the inning for the Bluejays and they left one stranded on base.
In the fourth inning Creighton added two runs to the scoreboard on one walk and one UAB error.
In the fifth inning Carrie Christophel blasted the first UAB homerun of the tournament over the left field wall, making the score 5-3.
The Blazers held off the Bluejays in the sixth and seventh inning, recording their first win of the day.
Pitchers Thompson and Kerri Foster combined for six hits, six walks and eight strikeouts
In game two, the Blazers again put numbers on the scoreboard quickly. In the first inning for UAB, Hithe walked and stole second base to set the Blazers in motion. Mullins was hit by a pitch and Sara Christophel singled through the right side, advancing Hithe to third on the play. Engram then reached on an error by the pitcher. UAB had two runs off of one hit and one error in the inning.
In the second inning, Stanfill hit her first homerun of the year and the second UAB homerun of the series to give the Blazers the 3-0 lead.
Creighton again tried to make a move in the fifth inning when Sami Herbester walked and was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice. Ashlee Trap then singled to center field but was stranded on base at the end of the inning.
Kerri Foster recorded the win for the Blazers after throwing seven innings, giving up three hits, walking two and striking out eight.
"I'm very proud of the girls' performance today considering the extremely cold weather that we had to face," said head coach Marla Townsend.
"The girls in the bottom of the order stepped up big for us today," said Townsend. "Kristin Stanfill and Carrie Christophel rallied the team with the two homeruns that they hit and definitely built up momentum for their teammates."
The Blazers will be back in action in a doubleheader here Sunday at 10:00 a.m. against Long Beach State.
