The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Samford
UAB Softball Wins Magic City Classic
3/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--- The UAB softball team came from behind to beat Samford 11-8 in nine innings and defeated Birmingham-Southern, 6-1 to win the Magic City Classic here Saturday.
The Blazers landed six players on the all-tournament team. In the infield, UAB manned four spots on the team with pitcher Kelli Thompson, catcher Amanda Ellis, second baseman Beth Mullins and third baseman Alexis Kreske. Cliffanie Engram took the left field position and Sara Christophel landed the center field position on the Magic City Classic All-Tournament Team.
"We struggled at times but came together as a team and put the ball in play very well today," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "It was a big win against Samford, we got behind a couple of runs and came back with 16 base hits to win the game."
In UAB's first game of the day,Samford jumped out to the early lead in the second inning when Trisha Holman reached on a singled and Kelly Smith reached on a fielder's choice. Holman and Smith were driven in on a double hit by Abi Casillo, giving the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead.
UAB (13-7) added its first run of the game in the fourth inning when Amanda Ellis tripled and was driven in when Candice Hithe laid down a base hit bunt, bringing the Blazers to within one of the Bulldogs 2-1 lead.
Samford (7-6) rallied in the fourth inning when Casillo reached on an error and Deanna Resmondo singled. Sarah Godfrey doubled, bringing in Casillo and Resmondo, giving the Bulldogs the 4-1 lead.
UAB battled back in the sixth inning when Ellis was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Alexis Kreske single up the middle. Kristin Stanfill added a single down the right field line. Hithe walked with the bases loaded and Ellis scored on the play. Sara Christophel singled, driving in Kreske. Beth Mullins singled and Engram followed with an RBI single, driving in Hithe. Thompson hit a single up the middle, driving in Mullins and Christophel, giving the 6-4 lead.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh inning with a two run homerun by Michelle Wright to send the game into extra innings.
UAB battled back in the eighth inning when Mullins was placed on second base due to the international tie breaker rule and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lara. Engram singled down the left field line, driving in Mullins. Engram stole second base, Ellis walked, Kreske walked and Stanfill walked with the bases loaded, notching an RBI on the play when Engram crossed the plate, giving UAB the 8-6 lead.
In the eighth inning for the Bulldogs, Kelly Smith was placed on second base and scored on a double to right field by Erin Hall. Hall was driven when Sarah Godfrey doubled and advanced to third on the throw, tying the game at 8-8.
UAB kept the momentum rolling in the ninth inning when Hithe was placed on second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Christophel. Mullins singled down the left field line, notching her first RBI of the day. Lara doubled to left center and drove in Mullins. Thompson smashed a double to left field, driving home Lara, giving the Blazers the 11-8 lead.
The Blazers held off the Bulldogs in the ninth inning, securing the 11-8 victory.
UAB put the first runs on the scoreboard against Birmingham-Southern in its second game of the day. Hithe was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Hithe scored on Sara Christophel's single. Mullins singled and advanced to second on the throw. Christophel and Mullins scored on a single by Cliffanie Engram, giving the Blazers the 3-0 lead.
UAB freshman Alexis Kreske, smashed her first Blazer homerun in the fourth inning, giving the Blazers the 4-0 lead.
The Blazers rallied in the sixth inning when Thompson doubled to center field and scored on Amanda Ellis' triple. Ellis scored when Chelsea McCall grounded out to the catcher, giving the Blazers the 6-0 lead.
Birmingham-Southern notched its only run of the game in the seventh inning when Nikki Rombough doubled to left center field and Alaina Shelton walked. Shannon Cantrell singled to right field, loading the bases for the Panthers. Andrea Boohacker walked and Rombough scored, bringing the final score to 6-1.
UAB will be back in action March 11 to take on the Salukis of Southern Illinois starting at 3:00 p.m. followed by a second game starting around 5:00 p.m.
