The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
USF*
UAB Softball Team Splits Doubleheader With USF
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2005
Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team split a Conference USA doubleheader with the USF Bulls on Saturday at George Ward Park, winning 7-1 in the first game and then falling by a score of 7-2 in game two.
The Blazers (19-27) used a 12-hit effort in game one to back starting pitcher Erica Mascarenas, who tossed UAB's 20th complete game of the season but could not keep up with the Bulls in the second game. The teams will meet at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the rubber game of the series.
Mascarenas (5-4) went the distance for UAB in game one as she allowed just one run on six hits while walking three and striking out five. USF starter Bree Spence fell to 12-11 with the loss, as she lasted only two and a third innings while yielding four unearned runs and seven hits. Spence did not walk or strikeout a batter.
"We came out from the beginning swinging our bats and it is key when the top two in the lineup get on base, so mentally we knew we could hit them," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "We have just got to jump on them from the beginning because we are a much better team when we score first."
"It is huge to have a chance to win the series, but USF is a quality team so we have just got to score," said Townsend.
Nicole Christensen came in to relieve Spence and went the final three and two and two thirds innings, allowing three runs and five hits. She walked one and struck out four.
The Blazers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after their first at-bat, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of first baseman Kris Lara. Lindsay Stanley and Chelsea McCall both reached on an error to begin the inning and Sara Christophel reached on an infield single to load the bases on a play which appeared to be a sacrifice attempt. Lara then drove in Stanley and McCall with her single.
Catcher Nicole Whitlock added an RBI single in the third to extend the Blazers' lead to 4-1. Two more runs came across in the bottom half of the fourth as Stanley and McCall once again crossed the plate, this time on a wild pitch by Christensen. Sara Christophel had an RBI single in the sixth to make it 7-1.
The Bulls scored a run in the top of the fourth but that would be the lone run Mascarenas would allow as USF pushed across a run with two outs.
USF erupted for five runs in the top of the third inning in game two to cruise to the 7-2 victory in game two. Center fielder Samantha Ray lined a bases-loaded triple down the right-field line with two away in the inning and then Christie Chapman and Krista Holle each drove in a run later in the frame. The Bulls tacked on a single run in the fifth as Chapman doubled home a run. Chapman picked up her third RBI of the game as she ripped a single to left in the top of the seventh.
The Blazers got two in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout. Carrie Christophel had an RBI groundout and Leigh Walker collected an RBI single in the inning.
UAB and USF meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the rubber game of the series. Sunday is Worth Day and fans will have a chance to take home various Worth items.
