The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Travels to Chattanooga for Thursday Doubleheader
4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
UAB Blazers (26-14) at Chattanooga Mocs (27-9)
Thursday, April 16 | 3 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. CT
Chattanooga, Tenn. | Jim Frost Stadium
Live Video: Game One | Game Two
Coverage: Live Stats | Game Notes | Twitter
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB softball team will hit the road on Thursday for a trip to Chattanooga, Tenn., as the Blazers take on the Chattanooga Mocs for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. CT at Jim Frost Stadium.
Thursday's doubleheader will feature the first two games of a five-game road swing for UAB (26-14), as the Blazers travel to Charlotte following Thursday's two-game set.
The Blazers met Chattanooga (27-9) earlier this season at the Plainsman Invite at Auburn University, and fell 13-0 in five innings. Before falling to Furman, 6-5, on Sunday, the Mocs had built a 10-game winning streak, its longest of the season.
Live video and stats for each of Thursday's matchups will be provided by Chattanooga.
UAB Among National Statistical Leaders
Entering the week, UAB finds itself highly ranked nationally in multiple categories. Leading the group is Caitlin Attfield, whose .500 batting average entering the week ranked seventh in the country.
With 12 sacrifice bunts this season, JoJo Fallen finds herself among national statistical leaders. According to the NCAA's national statistical rankings, Fallen's mark of 0.32 sacrifice bunts per game places 16th nationally.
As a team, UAB checks into the national statistical leaders with a .974 fielding percentage this season, which places 21st in the nation.
Scouting Chattanooga
Chattanooga has outscored opposing teams by 56 runs over the course of the season, as the Mocs have tallied 185 runs to the opposition's 129.
The Mocs have four lineup regulars batting .300 or better, and are led by Sarah Beth Roberts, who is hitting .404 with eight home runs, 23 RBI and a team-best .487 on-base percentage.
Nicole Osterman brings a power to the squad, as she is batting .326 with team-highs in home runs (12) and RBI (36). Rounding out the lineup is Sam Taylor, who is batting .360 with two home runs and 15 RBI, along with Criket Blanco, who is hitting at a .355 clip with five home runs, 24 RBI and a .467 on-base percentage.
Chattanooga leans on the pair of Taylor Deason and Cori Jennings in the circle. Deason is 10-4 with a 2.37 ERA and a team best 96 strikeouts in 97.2 innings pitched, while Jennings has a team-best 11-4 record with a 2.41 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 95.2 innings pitched.
In 41.1 innings of work, Kailey Palazzolo rounds out the staff with a 5-0 record, 3.56 ERA, 30 strikeouts and a team-low .216 batting average against.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account, @UABathletics. For an in-depth look into the UAB softball program, follow @uabsoftball on Twitter.
