The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Middle Tennessee
Softball Splits Second Straight Non-Conference Doubleheader
3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 22, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team used a key double to left center field from senior Amanda Ellis to defeat the Middle Tennessee Lady Raiders, 5-4, in the opening game of Monday's doubleheader, but surrendered a 5-1 lead in the second contest to lose 6-5 in heartbreaking fashion here at George Ward Park.
"We have plenty of things that we can learn from today's doubleheader and especially the last game," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "Right now, we just need to bounce back from that last game and get ready to continue our conference season against Louisville this weekend."
The 1-1 record in Monday's non-conference doubleheader marked UAB's second-consecutive split of a two-game set. On Saturday, the Blazers traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn., and earned a split in their doubleheader against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs at Jim Frost Stadium.
UAB (15-18) overcame a four-run deficit in Monday's first game to earn a crucial 5-4 victory over the Lady Raiders.
Middle Tennessee (11-11) used a pair of home runs from senior shortstop Cortney Mitchell to take an early 4-0 advantage in the opening contest of the doubleheader. Mitchell, the Lady Raiders' transfer from Arkansas, hit a solo shot in the top of the first inning and then blasted a three-run homer in the top of the seventh frame.
In Monday's two games, Mitchell went 4-for-6 with five RBI, two home runs and three runs scored.
"We gave up two home runs in the first game and then were able to put some hits together and come back to get the victory," Townsend said. "We weren't able to keep our lead in the second game and that's because we can't afford to give up 12 hits. We also left too many runners on base in some key situations when we had our big hitters coming up."
The Blazers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning as junior right fielder Sara Christophel ripped a key single to left center field and scored a pair of critical two-out runs. In the frame, UAB's Carrie Christophel singled and scored, while the Blazers' freshman from Morris, Nicole Whitlock, doubled down the left field line and also scored a crucial run to cut Middle Tennessee's deficit to 4-2.
UAB's Carrie Christophel then evened the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning as the product of Vestavia Hills High School slammed a two-run shot to deep center field. After the Blazers' Kris Lara doubled down the left field line, Christophel blasted a Crystal Bobo offering over the center field fence to knot the score at four runs apiece.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, UAB's Ellis doubled to left field and scored sophomore Chelsea McCall from third base to give the Blazers their 5-4 victory. McCall, a native of Gresham, Ore., led off the inning and tripled to left center field to put the game-winning run on third base.
Middle Tennessee gave the Blazers a taste of their own medicine in the second game as the Lady Raiders rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 6-5 come-from behind victory.
Despite home runs from UAB's Beth Mullins and Ellis in the bottom of the fifth inning, Middle Tennessee scored three runs on three hits in the final frame to win the game. The Lady Raiders' Brittany Herald supplied the game-winning hit as she sliced a lazy bloop single down the left field line to score a pair of runs.
"It just goes to show that there is no lead that is really safe," said Townsend. "They (Middle Tennessee) did a good job of battling back and we knew that they were not going to lie down and give up, but we just weren't able to manufacture any more runs. Even with a four-run lead, we need to scratch and claw for every run that we can get."
With the split, Middle Tennessee maintained its two-game lead in the all-time series. The Lady Raiders own a 5-3 advantage against UAB.
The UAB softball team will next be in action on Saturday, March 27, as the Blazers resume Conference USA play with a three-game homestand against the Louisville Cardinals beginning at 1 p.m.
UAB and Louisville will open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday and then conclude the three-game set with a contest on Sunday at 1 p.m. here at George Ward Park. Admission is free to all UAB home games.
Game 1: UAB (15-17) def. Middle Tennessee (10-11), 5-4
MT 103 000 0 - 4 6 0
UAB 000 202 1 - 5 8 0
Top Hitters: UAB, Carrie Christophel 2-2, HR (1), 2 RBI, 2 R, Sara Christophel 1-3, 2 RBI, Chelsea McCall 1-3, 3B, GW R; MT, Cortney Mitchell 2-3, 2 HR (4), 4 RBI, 2 R, Katie Tompkins 2-3 R, Jennifer Dorais 1-2 R.
WP: Brittany Hodge (2-1), LP: Crystal Bobo (5-7).
Game 2: Middle Tennessee (11-11) def. UAB (15-18), 6-5
MT 100 002 3 - 6 12 1
UAB 000 230 0 - 5 8 1
Top Hitters: UAB, Amanda Ellis 2-4 HR (3), R, RBI, Holly Krzan 1-3, R, RBI, Lauren Terry 1-2, Beth Mullins 1-4 HR (2), R, 2 RBI; MT, Brittany Herald 2-4 4 RBI, Cortney Mitchell 2-3 R, RBI, Candis Littrell 2-2, 2 R, RBI, Brandy Davis 2-3.
WP: Trish White (2-0), LP: Tara Higashino (7-10).
