The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Stephen F. Austin
UAB Softball Takes Two At Stephen F. Austin
4/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2003
NACOGOCHES, Texas---The UAB softball team (23-23, 6-12 C-USA) won both games against Stephen F. Austin, here Tuesday. The Blazers captured game one, 1-0, in nine innings and won 3-1 in game two. The second game was shortened to only six innings due to travel arrangements.
In the first game of the day, the Blazers and Lady Jacks remained scoreless throughout the first seven inning of play at the Coy Simms Softball Complex. In the eighth inning, UAB's Chelsea McCall was placed on second base due to the International tie breaker rule, but was stranded by the Blazers.
In the bottom of the inning, Stephen F. Austin's (25-27, 9-12 Southland) Nicole Carter was placed on second base. After a walk to Meryl McGuire, the Jacks had runners on first and second. Kristen Exline put down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third. However, the Blazers snuffed out the threat when Jamie Brown hit a line drive to third base and UAB's Amanda Byrne turned a double play.
In the top of the ninth, UAB's Kelli Thompson was placed on second base. Kristen Stanfill hit a single to center, driving Thompson in and giving the Blazers the 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Lady Jacks placed Jamie Brown on second base. Brown advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ragen Rutherford. Once again, UAB fought back as Kerri Foster struck out Tara Hersey to give the Blazers the 1-0 victory.
Foster picked up the win for the Blazers evening out her record at 11-11 on the season. The Blazers turned four double plays in the game and Tara Higashino recorded her first career UAB hit.
In the second game of the day, Stephen F. Austin put the first run on the scoreboard in the third inning, to take the 1-0 lead.
UAB rallied in the fifth inning when McCall reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cliffanie Engram. Beth Mullins reached on a walk and was followed by Kris Lara who singled in the tying run. Amanda Ellis then singled down the left side to bring Mullins and Lara home, giving UAB the 3-1 lead.
The Blazers held off the Lady Jacks to secure the 3-2 victory in six innings. Kelli Thompson picked up her tenth win on the season.
Next, UAB travels to Starkville, Miss., to face Mississippi State on Tuesday, April 22, at 6 p.m.
