The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
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UTEP
Consistent At Bats Drive UAB Past UTEP
4/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2012
Box Score Game 1 | Game 2
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EL PASO, TEXAS –The UAB softball team smacked eight extra-base hits, including four home runs, en route to a doubleheader sweep at UTEP on Saturday. The Blazers posted a pair of run-rule victories, defeating the Miners 11-3 (5) and 8-0 (5).
UAB improves to 30-16 overall and 13-4 in C-USA, while UTEP falls to 13-33 on the season and 2-18 in conference action.
The third and final game of the series is slated for Sunday at 11 a.m. MT at Helen of Troy Field.
Game 1: UAB 11, UTEP 3 (5)
Each team scored one run in the first inning. For UAB, Whitney Fletcher walked, moved to second on a Catherine Crawford hit by pitch, swiped third base and scored on a fielding error by UTEP’s shortstop.
In the bottom of the inning, UAB starter Lannah Campbell walked the bases loaded. Chelsea Troupe reached on fielder’s choice with a grounder to Heather Pearson who got the force out at second, but the play allowed Tahla Wade to score from third.
The Miners add two additional runs in the second inning. Campbell loaded the bases again and Leigh Streetman entered the game to pitch. A failed pickoff attempt at third base allowed the two runs to score as the ball rolled into dead territory near UAB’s dugout.
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth inning, the Blazers exploded for 10 runs on 10 hits highlighted by two three-run homers off the bats of Lauren Webster and Kristen McGrath. Webster’s blast was her third of the season and the winning hit of the game as UAB took a 4-3 lead, ending the day for UTEP starter Colleen Hohman.
K. McGrath’s long ball was her 13th of the season. The Tampa, Fla. native is now tied with the single-season record set by Andrea Rodgers in 2007.
The 10 runs were the second-most runs plated by the Blazers in a single inning this season, next to the 12 runs UAB scored in the 4th inning in the 19-0 win against UMASS on March 3 at the Easton Alabama Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The UAB pitching duo held the Miners to one hit. Streetman (9-6) tossed 4.0 scoreless, hitless innings in relief to earn the win.
Hohman (5-16) was tagged with the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
Game 2: UAB 8, UTEP 0 (5)
The Blazers took an early 1-0 lead in the second frame. K. McGrath drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by Tiffany Smith on the base paths. Smith advanced all the way to third on a bunt by Webster, who reached first safely. Smith scored on a sacrifice bunt by Erica Sisson.
Mandy Lowman’s three-run homer in the third inning gave UAB a 4-0 advantage. The senior cranked a Joanna Krienitz offering over the center field wall to score Fletcher and Crawford, who reached base on a single and bunt, respectively.
The Blazers added a run in the fourth inning on an RBI-double from Crawford to score Fletcher, who walked to first.
Lowman rocked her second round tripper of the game, a solo-shot to center, to spark a three-run inning that gave UAB its final 8-0 lead.
Starter Amber Torres (8-3) pitched her fourth complete game and shutout of the season, scattering six hits in 5.0 innings of work.
UTEP’s Krienitz (3-4) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits.
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