The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Houston
UAB Splits Doubleheader With Houston
3/31/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2012
Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2
GameTracker | Blazer Vision | Live Chat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -The UAB softball team split a doubleheader with Conference USA opponent Houston on Saturday at the UAB Softball Field. The Blazers defeated the Cougars, 3-2, in the first game, before falling, 2-1, in game two.
With the victory in game one the Blazers extended their C-USA winning streak to seven games, marking the first time in program history UAB won its first seven league games in a row.
The Blazers and Cougars will meet Sunday at Noon for the rubber match.
"We knew they were going to be tough games coming in," head coach Marla Townsend said. "The good news is we split today and our best ball is yet to come."
Game 1: UAB 3, Houston 2
The Blazers scored first in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Lauren Webster stepped to the plate and cranked the first pitch over the left field wall to score Lowman, who walked to first base.
Houston cut UAB's lead to one in the fourth inning thanks to a solo shot off the bat of Haley Outon.
UAB added an insurance run in the fifth, making the score 3-1. Kate Armstrong singled to lead off the inning and Amy Dennis entered the game to pinch run. Dennis was moved to second on a single by Erica Sisson and later scored on a Whitney Fletcher single to deep left field.
The Cougars threatened to come back in the sixth inning After plating one run to make the score 3-2, the Blazer defense faced runners on first and second with just one out. Jamie Edwards flied out to center field for the second out and Kendra Cullum took her turn at the dish. She hit a blooper right over UAB pitcher Leigh Streetman's head. Webster hustled over from second and laid out to make the catch.
UAB starter Lannah Campbell (9-4) earned the win for the Blazers. She pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs. Streetman was tagged with her third save of the season after pitching 2.0 innings.
Bailey Watts (9-6) suffered the loss for Houston, allowing six hits in 6.0 innings pitched with four strikeouts.
Game 2: Houston 2, UAB 1
Houston took an early lead in game two. Leadoff hitter Holly Anderson singled to start things off in the top of the first. She stole second and third base, and eventually scored on a H. Outon single to left.
Anderson also played a part in the Cougars second run in the second frame. With one out and runners on second and third, Anderson smacked a single to center field to score Reina Gaber from third.
The Blazers got on the board in the fifth inning. Armstrong singled to lead off the inning and Chandler Orr entered the game to run. Hayley Davis grounded out, advancing C. Orr to second. Fletcher ripped a single to right field to score C. Orr and cut Houston's lead to one, 2-1.
UAB had a chance to come back in the sixth inning. The Blazers had runners on second and third with no outs, but the Cougar defense retired the next three batters in succession to escape the inning.
Diedre Outon (6-3) earned the win, tossing a complete game and allowing just one earned run and seven hits.
Streetman (6-5) took the loss. She scattered seven hits and allowed two earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched. Amber Torres entered the game in the fifth inning and held the Cougars scoreless with just three hits.
"The pitching staff did a great job," Townsend said. "We have been producing at the plate; we just didn't come through this time. We're looking forward to tomorrow and winning the series."
