The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
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Mississippi State
Strong Pitching Leads Blazers Over Bulldogs
3/26/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2013
UAB vs. Mississippi State Final Box
With the win, UAB improves to 19-7 on the year while Mississippi State drops to 20-10.
"This is a very big win for us at home. Mississippi State is very close to us in the RPI, and I thought the girls focused tonight and ready," head coach Marla Townsend said. "Lannah did a great job creating 10 strikeouts, and our defense fielded the ball cleanly when it was put in play."
Campbell (5-1) threw her second complete game of the year and retired the Bulldog batters in order in each of the first four innings en route to the win.
While UAB only recorded one hit through the first four frames, the Blazers posted a number of quality at-bats, including senior third baseman Kate Armstrong, who recorded a 19-pitch trip to the plate in the fourth that led to the team's lone walk of the game.
"There are times when you're in the zone and there are times when you're really in the zone, and I was proud of Kate (Armstrong)," Townsend said. "Not only was she battling and just missing, fouling them off, but she had the state of mind to take the low pitch, take the high pitch for the walk. I love when they have that look in their eyes and you know that they're going to produce. She got on base and got the entire team pumped up."
The Blazers scored first, and are 16-2 on the year when doing so, starting when sophomore left fielder Amy Dennis hit a two-out single to right center in the bottom of the fifth. Her hit was followed by freshman Caitlin Attfield's hard single to third base. Pearson then hit a ball into the gap in center field to score Dennis and she advanced to second base on the throw, while Attfield took third.
"Heather Pearson with two outs, that's when she's been her best," Townsend said. "It's huge for her to be hitting in the two spot, and it's great for Whitney (Fletcher), putting the ball in play. She got down a little in the count, but made an adjustment and got a solid hit."
After flying out to left and striking out in her first two at-bats, Fletcher, who was recently named Conference USA Hitter of the Week, hit a single to the gap behind Mississippi State's shortstop and beat the tag at first base to drive in UAB's second run of the night.
The Bulldogs scored their lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning, as pinch hitter Swayze Hollenhead was batted in on a two-out double to right field by catcher Sam Lenahan.
In the final inning, Mississippi State got the tying run on second base, but a pair of groundouts to second and third base, respectively, and a flyout to Fletcher in center field ended the game.
The win marks UAB's third win over the Bulldogs in 16 meetings. In 2011, the Blazers won at home, 8-0, in six innings, with then-freshman Leigh Streetman throwing eight strikeouts. Armstrong and Lauren Webster each recorded RBI in the win.
Up next, the UAB softball team remains at home on Friday and Saturday, resuming Conference USA action with a three-game series against Southern Miss. Friday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT, while Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. CT. Follow @UABSoftball on Twitter for in-game updates.
