UAB Wins Fourth-Straight Conference USA Series Against WKU

Friday, April 13

Birmingham / Mary Bowers Field

3:00 PM

UAB

16-26-1, 8-4-1

Western Kentucky University

24-16, 7-6

WKU

UAB

UAB Wins Fourth-Straight Conference USA Series Against WKU

4/13/2018 11:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB walked off with a game one win and then hung on in spectacular fashion for a win in game two to claim its fourth-straight Conference USA series victory over WKU on Friday night at Mary Bowers Field.

Down to its final strike in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on and Rachel Rogers at the plate, UAB looked like it might suffer its first opening-game defeat in C-USA play as the WKU Hilltoppers held a 2-1 advantage.

Instead, Rogers cranked her fourth homer of the season for a three-run walk-off dinger as UAB took the first game, 4-2. It was the senior first baseman's night as she drove in all four of UAB's runs, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and four RBI.

UAB (17-26-1, 9-4-1 C-USA) trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth when Natalie Erwin reached base safely on a throwing error and proceeded to steal second to move into scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Erwin to advance to third with nobody out.

Rogers brought the Blazers to within a run with a sacrifice fly to center, giving Erwin a chance to tag up and score from third. The Blazers continued to threaten in the sixth when they loaded the bases with two outs before a strikeout ended the inning to get WKU out of the jam.

Katlyn Sides led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle before Erwin drew a one-out walk to put two runners on. A pop-out in the next at-bat brought Rogers to the plate and she crushed a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to walk-off with a 4-2 UAB win.

Emily Kachel (11-11) threw a complete-game for the Blazers, allowing two runs on four hits. The freshman struck out eight, walked three and did not allow a hit after the fourth inning in the win.

UAB used late game heroics once again to capture a game two win as it had to rally for the second time on Friday.

The Blazers trailed by a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sides drew a lead-off walk. Destini England hit a double to center in the next at-bat to put two Blazers in scoring position with nobody out.

Erwin laid down a sacrifice bunt that was bobbled by the catcher, allowing two runs to come across and Erwin advance to second.

WKU (24-17, 7-7) got the next batter out to bring Rogers back to the plate, who proceeded to hit a double down the right field line, sending Erwin racing for home to plate another run giving the Blazers a 3-1 lead.

The Hilltoppers would not go away quietly, however, and hit a one-out double to center to put the pressure on. An error let the ball get out of the infield on the next at-bat and WKU came around to score to cut the lead to one.

A wild pitch advanced the runner to third and WKU called for a squeeze bunt to try and tie the game. Ashton Clem read the play all the way and quickly covered the ball, throwing to first for the out before Analyse Petree rifled the ball back to catcher Molli Garcia, who applied a perfect tag on the runner attempting to score from third to end the game at 3-2.

Claire Blount tossed a complete-game gem for the Blazers as she allowed just two runs, one earned, on two hits. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native struck out three and gave up just one walk.

Up Next

UAB and WKU will conclude its series tomorrow at Mary Bowers Field. Due to weather scheduled to move into the Birmingham area, first pitch for Game 3 is slated for 10 a.m.