The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Auburn
UAB Softball Sets Attendance Record Against Auburn
3/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.---UAB's UAB's Kelli Thompson hit a game-tying home run in the fifth inning and struck out eight Auburn batters, but the Blazers came up short, 5-2, in front of a record-breaking crowd of 330 in a loss to the Tigers here Wednesday.
"We had several opportunities to win the game with runners in scoring position and the batters failed to come through," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend.
Auburn jumped out to the early lead in the first inning when Shannon Anderson singled and stole second base. Sara Dean then walked and both Dean and Anderson took off on a double steal bringing the Auburn base runners to second and third base. Anderson then scored on a Deni Zeigler single, giving Auburn the 1-0 lead.
UAB (16-16, 1-5, C-USA) rallied in the third inning when Amanda Ellis was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on an Alexis Kreske sacrifice bunt. Kristin Stanfill singled through the left side and Ellis advanced to third. The Blazers got caught in a double play to end the inning when Candice Hithe popped up a bunt and Ellis had already crossed the plate for the Blazers.
In the fifth inning, UAB's Thompson smashed her third home run of the year over the left field wall, tying the game at 1-1. It was Thompson's second home run against Auburn this season, as she hit one on February 25 off of Tiger pitcher Janet Spivey.
UAB and Auburn (18-18) remained tied at 1-1 for the final two innings of the game, sending the game into extra innings.
In the eighth inning Auburn scored four runs when Ashley Griffin reached on a fielder's choice. Griffin advanced to second when Shannon Anderson hit a bunt single. Kasey Angulo then walked and Auburn loaded the bases. Ziegler hit a double and brought Angulo, Anderson and Griffin across the plate, giving the Tigers the 4-1 lead. Jennifer Hammock then doubled and Ziegler scored on the play to give Auburn the 5-1 lead.
UAB battled back in the eighth inning when Candice Hithe was placed on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. Hithe advanced to third when Sara Christophel singled. Hithe then tagged up when Beth Mullins flied out to center field, cutting the Tiger lead to three. Auburn held off the Blazers for final out of the inning, securing the 5-2, victory over the Blazers.
Thompson (6-6) took the loss for the Blazers after pitching a complete game and striking out eight batters.
UAB will next be in action when it travels to Saint Louis on March 29 and March 30 to take on the Billikens in a three-game series.
