The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Central Michigan
Blazers Defeat Central Michigan, Edge Western Michigan In Extra Innings
3/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2010
CMU-UAB Box Score | PDF Box Score 
UAB-WMU Box Score | PDF Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. --- The UAB softball team won two games Saturday at the USF Under Armour Invitational to improve to 12-5 for the season. The Blazers defeated Central Michigan, 10-6, before edging Western Michigan, 5-3, in extra innings.
Against Central Michigan, the Blazers jumped out an early 5-0 lead. Senior Martina Landrum smacked a double up the middle to score two runs in the second, and scored off a Caley Walden single in the first.
The Chippewas entered the fifth down one run, but base hits from Brogan Darwin, Summer Knoop, Amber Olejniczak and Katie Greenman, in conjunction with Blazer defensive errors, allowed Central Michigan to score five runs and take the lead.
The Blazers bounced back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to regain the lead, 7-6. Senior Cameron Skates belted a base hit up the middle and sophomore first baseman Kayla Orr singled to left field. Skates scored off an error by the Chippewas, and Orr reached on a sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop Catherine Douglass.
UAB tacked on three more runs in the sixth to extend its lead, 10-6, with Walden, sophomore catcher Mandy Lowman and Orr slugging base hits for the Blazers.
"What a great day for UAB softball," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said. "In our first game we took the early lead. Careless play on our part put them up, but I'm proud of the way we responded and got those runs in the fifth. We have to learn from those mistakes."
Both teams were plagued by errors, with the Chippewas posting four as the Blazers recorded three, but UAB found a way to be successful at the plate. Landrum led the Blazers offensively, going 2-for-3 with one run and three RBI. Lowman also went 2-for-3 with two runs.
Against Western Michigan, a strong performance by pitcher Meredith Whitney held the Blazers scoreless through the fifth. The Broncos jumped on the board in the first after Lexi Jager belted a triple and scored off the throw, and chipped in two more runs in the third.
A base hit by Douglass, followed by Glynn reaching on a fielder's choice and a Van Kirk walk, loaded the bases. The Broncos walked Landrum to put UAB's first run on the board. Then Walden smacked a base hit to centerfield to score Glynn and Van Kirk to tie the game.
"We were down three and were not being real effective at the plate, but then we had lots of contact and made the pitcher work hard," Townsend said. "We came back against a very solid Western Michigan team and tied it up."
Freshman pitcher Lauren Webster (4-2) entered the game in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out. UAB escaped the inning still tied after Webster struck out the next two batters to force extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, a single by Skates scored Landrum and Walden to give the Blazers a 5-3 lead. Webster struck out two batters and the third grounded out to Douglass to give UAB the victory.
"All three pitchers did an outstanding job today," Townsend said. "With the winning run 60 feet from home plate, I'm proud of our freshman pitcher stepping in and ending the game. We left the field a much more experienced team today because of the situations we were put in. It was a total team effort and everyone contributed."
Junior pitcher Alisha Smith had a solid performance in the circle through the first six innings against the Broncos, striking out six batters and forcing nine batters to ground out.
The Blazers play their final game of the USF Under Armour Invitational Sunday morning. UAB will face off against Boston University at 9 a.m. ET.
