The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
UMass
UAB Wins Season Opener With Walk-Off Homer
2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 10, 2012
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MIAMI, Fla. – Sophomore Kristen McGrath smacked a walk-off homerun to lift UAB to a 3-2 victory against UMass in the 2012 season opener Friday at the FIU Combat Classic in Miami, Fla.
“I was impressed with the way we came out today and our mentality,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “I’m proud of our team with their at-bats -- getting runners on base. We faced an outstanding pitcher and I’m very pleased with our team’s performance.”
The contest was scoreless heading into the sixth inning when UMass’s Lindsey Webster blasted a two-run homer to left.
The Blazers retaliated in the bottom of the seventh. Lead-off hitter Whitney Fletcher singled to first after she ripped a shot up the middle. Catherine Crawford hit a pop-up to third and Kayla Orr grounded out for the first two outs of the inning.
Senior clean-up hitter and catcher Mandy Lowman stepped to the plate and drilled a two-run homer over the left field wall, scoring Fletcher and tying the game, 2-2.
McGrath took her stance in the box and, with the count 0-2, drilled the ball over the left field wall, giving UAB the 3-2 victory.
Earlier in the game, the Blazers defense held strong as the Minutewomen threatened to score.
In the top of the second inning, UMass had runners on the corners with two outs and the lead-off hitter at the plate. The first-base runner stole second, Lowman’s throw was cut off by second baseman Amy Dennis, who tossed it back to Lowman. Lowman immediately hurled the ball to Kate Armstrong at third, catching the third-base runner in a run down. Armstrong chased the base runner toward home plate and made a diving tag for the third out.
“Our defense as a whole was great,” Townsend said. “We definitely got ourselves out of some holes. There were a lot of things we got to work on.”
Sophomore Leigh Streetman picked up the win for the Blazers, facing 27 batters and fanning 10 of them. She sacrificed two earned runs, allowed just five hits and walked two batters.
Sara Plourde suffered the loss for the Minutewomen, allowing three earned runs, six walks and six hits against 32 batters faced.
The Blazers continue the FIU Combat Classic with a pair of games Saturday. UAB faces No. 24 Louisville at 9 a.m. ET, before a matchup with first-time opponent Illinois at 3 p.m. ET.
Live stats will be available for the game, along with a live in-game chat at www.UABsports.com.
