UAB Clinches Conference Series Over UTEP in Rubber Match

Sunday, March 31

Birmingham, Ala. / Mary Bowers Field

1 P.M.

UAB

14-20, 4-8

UTEP

10-24, 4-8

UTEP

UAB

UAB Clinches Conference Series Over UTEP in Rubber Match

3/31/2019 5:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team (14-20, 4-8 C-USA) clinched its second conference series of the season with a 4-1 win over UTEP on Sunday, taking games one and three at Mary Bowers Field over the weekend for the 2-1 series win.

Sophomore pitcher Emily Kachel led the way for the Blazers from the circle in both wins, pitching a complete game to earn a win while giving up one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in game three and going the bulk of the distance in game one with five innings pitched, three strikeouts and no runs given up on two hits.

Junior outfielder Destini England and freshman infielder Sierra Frazier led the Blazer bats in game three as both went 2-for-3 on the day. England also scored a run, while Frazier picked up an RBI. UAB used nine hits along with Kachel's stellar performance from the circle to jump on top of the Miners and secure the 4-1 victory.

"A big series win for us creates some momentum going into next week," said coach Jimmy Kolaitis. "Emily was phenomenal in the circle today. Her presence and her stuff was a s good as I have seen it all year. She is getting better every time she goes out there. Overall, we had some really solid pitching performances from our staff through the weekend. We are getting better and better. If we can learn to stay consistent through a full weekend, we will be tough to beat for the last part of this season."

Kachel brought the heat from the jump, striking out three batters in the top of the first to bring UAB to the plate. Natalie Erwin then got the Blazers started from the leadoff spot by singling through the right side. After Faith Hegh reached on a bunt to advance Erwin to third, Hegh stole second to give the Blazers a pair in scoring postion. Jenna Olszewski singled up the middle to send home Erwin and put the Blazers on the board, then Sierra Frazier's follow-up single would drive in Hegh, giving UAB a 2-0 lead at the end of the frame.

Kachel would continue to deal throughout the afternoon, and the Blazers would only pick up an Ashton Clem single in the bottom of the second, despite loading the bases on a pair of Miner mistakes. In the bottom of the third, UAB found its offensive rhythm once again and plated two more. Frazier would lead off the inning with a double, and England would follow that with a single to put runners on the corners. Rachel Owens then placed a bunt perfectly to score Reece Martin, who pinch ran for Frazier, and reach base safely. Clem then drew a walk to load the bases once more, and Hegh came through with a single to drive in England and give the Blazers a 4-0 lead.

Neither side could muster as much as a hit in the fourth or fifth inning, but UTEP managed to break Kachel's shutout after an error that allowed a runner to advance to second and a double to follow that scored the runner. Kachel was unfazed though, striking out her seventh batter on the day soon after and forcing a fly out to end the inning.

UAB was unable to bolster its lead in the bottom of the sixth, but that would prove to be irrelevant as Kachel wouldn't allow another run. The Miners only added a double in the seventh, but the Blazers put out the remaining batters to preserve the 4-1 game win and 2-1 series win.

UAB will next travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on No. 4 Alabama (36-1, 7-1 SEC) for a midweek battle on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Rhoads Stadium.

For more information on the UAB softball team follow the Blazers on Twitter and Instagram (@UAB_SB).