Mississippi State Squeaks Past UAB, 9-7

Tuesday, March 24

Birmingham, Ala.

6:00 PM

UAB

Mississippi State

Mississippi State Squeaks Past UAB, 9-7

3/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

March 24, 2009

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB softball team (10-18, 3-6 C-USA) scored six unanswered runs against Mississippi State (15-15, 0-9 SEC) on Tuesday night at George Ward Park, but came up short as the Bulldogs walked away with the win, 9-7.

"We started off slow and scared," said UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "We didn't get the bats going until later in the game. But I'm proud of how the girls never gave up. They battled back in the second half of the game."

Mississippi State jumped on the Blazers early, scoring four runs on four hits and a UAB error in the first two innings. The Bulldogs tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning on two hits, including a two-run double by Ali Bainbridge.

UAB finally put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Laura Callaway hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Tiffany Smith to score from third.

Down 8-1, the Blazers' bats came alive in the fifth inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Cameron Skates broke out of her hitting slump with a single to centerfield to lead off the inning. Caley Walden followed, reaching first safely after a bunt. Two batters later, Martina Landrum singled up the middle and Skates was able to score.

After a Mississippi State pitching change, Walden and Landrum were able to advance a base on a wild pitch. Andrea Rogers hit an infield single, scoring Walden. Two more wild pitches allowed Landrum to advance to third and eventually score to close the gap, 8-4. With Rogers on third, Amanda Allen hit a two-run home run to left field to pull within two runs of Mississippi State, 8-6. The homer was Allen's sixth of the year. But back-to-back strikeouts ended the Blazers' fifth inning rally.

The Bulldogs scored one more run on three hits in the sixth inning to lead, 9-6.

The Blazers responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to left field by Skates. It was the junior's second home run of the season.

UAB had a productive start to the seventh inning after Landrum reached base on a single and Allen drew a walk. But with runners on first and second, the Blazers were unable to score and ended the game, 9-7.

Dunlap picked up the win for Mississippi State and improved to 7-9 on the year.

Sara Swepston (2-5) recorded the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in two innings pitched.

The UAB softball team returns to action this weekend with a three-game Conference USA series against UTEP. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.