The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Charlotte*
UAB Softball Team Splits Doubleheader With Charlotte
4/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2005
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The UAB softball team split a doubleheader with the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday in Conference USA play, taking game one by a score of 1-0 in eight innings and then falling in the second game 3-2 at the Phillips Complex.
The Blazers (20-32, 6-11 C-USA) earned their fifth shutout of the season in game one, as freshman left-hander Jennifer Nelson (8-6) tossed a complete game in her first appearance since April 2 as she allowed just three hits in her eight innings of work. Nelson walked seven but countered that by striking out nine batters.
Charlotte improved to 16-34-1 overall and 3-17 in C-USA play with the victory in game two. The teams will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday at noon.
Game one remained scoreless for seven innings until third baseman Carrie Christophel singled up the middle to score Chelsea McCall with one out to give the Blazers the 1-0 lead. The 49ers put two on base with none out in the bottom of the eighth but chose not to bunt and thus advance the runners. Nelson got Lauren Schmitz to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Kristen Bowen (10-19) took the loss for Charlotte after allowing one run on nine hits in eight innings of work. She walked one and struck out six. Leigh Walker and Lindsay Stanley each managed two hits apiece off of Bowen.
Charlotte took a 1-0 lead after an inning in game two as Kaycie Jones singled home a run with one out off of UAB starting pitcher Erica Mascarenas. UAB tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth as centerfielder Sara Christophel drilled a solo home run over the left-field wall. The homer was Christophel's third of the season.
The 49ers took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning with the aid of a pair of Blazer errors. Mascarenas (5-6) was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs, one earned, on six hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. She walked none and struck out two.
UAB tied the game with two outs in the top of the seventh inning as catcher Jamie West's errant pick-off throw skipped down the third base line after she attempted to pick off Nicole Whitlock, which allowed her to race home and the Blazers to tie the game. Whitlock led the inning off with a double but Leigh Walker grounded out and Amanda Antonovich struck out. Stanley then reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners with two away. McCall grounded out to end the frame.
Charlotte starter Christy Murray did not factor in the decision after going six innings and allowing just one run on five hits. She walked one and struck out six. Bowen was the victor after pitching one inning and allowing an unearned run and two hits to go with one strikeout.
Evan Miller reached on an error to open the Charlotte seventh and Schmitz followed with a single. After a pop out by Becky Matthews for the first out of the inning, Jamie West singled to left field to drive home the winning run.
The Blazers will play host to Southern Miss next weekend in Birmingham in their final conference series at home this season. The three-game set begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader with a single game set for Sunday at the same time.
