The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
UAB Softball Shuts Out Conference Leader East Carolina Twice Saturday
4/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 10, 2010
Game 1 Box Score | PDF Box Score 
Game 2 Box Score | PDF Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The UAB softball team prevailed in a true pitcher's duel to open Saturday's doubleheader at East Carolina. Sallie Van Kirk belted a two-out, two-RBI triple in the top of the 11th to break a scoreless game and give the Blazers a 2-0 victory. UAB proceeded to shut out the Pirates, 5-0, in the second game.
The Blazers' sweep Saturday was the first time the Pirates have dropped both games of a doubleheader since April 12, 2008 at Houston. UAB also snapped a four-game losing streak to East Carolina, and improved to 24-11 overall and 8-3 in C-USA.
"I'm proud of the girls the way they made adjustments at the plate during the first game and just battled," UAB head coach Marla Townsend. "We knew that it would be a tight game, but for them to stick with it, make adjustments and for Sally to get a huge triple was incredible. That was also an outstanding performance by Alisha Smith and the defense."
In the first game, Van Kirk's triple to deep right field plated Kayla Orr and Natalie Mitchell to give UAB the 2-0 advantage, and tally the first runs of the game in the top of the 11th. East Carolina gave UAB a scare in the bottom of the inning after the Pirates put two runners on, but catcher Mandy Lowman picked off Marina Gusman-Brown at third to end the game.
"With two outs and runners in scoring position, Mandy Lowman took the game into her hands and came up with a huge pick play at third base," Townsend said.
A pitcher's duel between UAB's Alisha Smith and East Carolina's Toni Paisley held both teams scoreless through regulation and forced extra innings. Both teams combined for just five hits through seven innings, four of which were belted by the Pirates.
Smith (8-6) was an ace in the circle for the Blazers, retiring seven batters and allowing just two hits in the game's four extra innings to shut out the Pirates. Smith also had a clutch performance in the bottom of the seventh, recording her sixth strikeout of the game to post the second out, and catching a liner to send the game into extra innings.
The Blazers snapped a nine-game winning streak for Paisley (16-8), who had won her last nine starts and 11 decisions. The junior pitcher fanned 13 Blazer batters and surrendered just four hits in the loss.
The first hit of the game wasn't posted until Pirate first baseman Sissy Jimenez knocked a single through the right side in the third.
The Blazers' lone hit during regulation came in the top of the fourth after Walden launched a shot that fell just behind the third baseman.
Lowman blasted her ninth homer of the season to open the scoring for the Blazers in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Orr followed with a base hit before designated player Kate Armstrong rocketed a long ball off the scoreboard to give UAB the 3-0 advantage in the second inning.
"Our bats were back in the second game," Townsend said. "We scored early, had our confidence back and just had an outstanding team performance."
In the fifth, Martina Landrum and Walden both registered base hits with two outs, to join Mitchell, who walked earlier in the inning, in the diamond and load the bases. ECU pitcher Faith Sutton (6-6) then walked in two runs for the Blazers.
Freshman pitcher Lauren Webster (11-4) tossed 11 strikeouts for the third time this season, and surrendered just two hits in the win.
The Blazers conclude their series with the Pirates Sunday with a contest at 12 p.m. ET.
