The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
USF
UAB Wins Championship Game at USF Tournament
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2007
TAMPA, Fla. ---- The UAB softball team edged out the host USF Bulls 2-1 to take the championship game at the USF "The Game" Tournament in Tampa, Fla. Blazer third baseman Nicole Tumlin knocked in both runs for UAB and pitcher Jennifer Nelson picked up her seventh win of the season.
USF (11-6) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first. Nelson walked the leadoff batter and the Bulls followed with a pair of singles to put one run across. USF loaded the bases, but Nelson worked out of the jam with a fly ball to end the inning.
The Blazers (9-6) finally got their bats going in the fourth. Lindsay Stanley slapped a single down the leftfield line to lead off the inning and advanced to third on Holly Krzan's single to right-centerfield. Krzan advanced to second on the throw to put two runners in scoring position. Nicole Tumlin stepped in and delivered a single to rightfield, plating both runners to put the Blazers on top 2-1. Tumlin's two-RBI single was her second in as many games.
The Bulls loaded the bases again in the fifth, but Nelson struck out one and got a grounder to third for the force out to get out of the inning unscathed.
Nelson and the Blazer defense cruised through the final two innings, retiring the last six batters. Nelson (7-2) finished the tournament 3-0, striking out 17 and giving up just one earned run.
Krzan led UAB offensively in the tournament, batting .438 with three doubles, two homeruns and six RBI.
The win marked head coach Marla Townsend's 200th career win. Townsend is in her ninth season at UAB and has been the head coach since the program's inaugural season in 2000.
The Blazers will take a day off before heading to Chattanooga on Tuesday to make up a doubleheader. The first game will begin at 4:00 p.m. (ET).
