Blazers Score Seven Unanswered in First Home Win

Saturday, February 21

Birmingham, Ala.

6 P.M.

UAB

6-7

Southern Illinois

8-6

Southern Illinois

UAB

Blazers Score Seven Unanswered in First Home Win

2/21/2026 11:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB Softball got its first home win of the 2026 season with a comeback win over Southern Illinois, scoring seven unanswered runs. Charlee Bennett powered the Blazer offense with her first career home run and triple, both team-firsts in 2026. Ashlyn Shirah tallied three hits, including two RBI singles, extending her on-base streak to 24 games.

The Salukis jumped out to an early lead with Sydney Potter hitting her 10th homer of the season to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Southern Illinois added another run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly.

The Blazers comeback began with a Shirah RBI single to score Charlee Bennett. Hannah Dorsett hit a double over the left fielder's head to score a runner from first base, pulling within one run of Southern Illinois.

In the fifth inning, Bennett officially took over the game, hitting her first career home run to tie, 3-3. Bennett then tripled to score two runs in the sixth inning, putting UAB up three runs before Shirah added a seventh UAB run.

Caroline McLendon threw four shutout innings en route to her first win of the season in the circle.

Notables

Bennett hit her first career home run and first triple, tallying eight total bases
Bennett is the first player since 2018 to record a homer and a triple in the same game.
Bennett tallied three hits, her second career three-hit game.
Shirah had three singles, her second career three-hit game.
Shirah extended her on-base streak to 24 games.
Perkins extended her on-base streak to 17 games.

The Run Down

T1 | Potter put the Salukis up early with a two-run homer just two hitters into the game (0-2).
T1 | Southern Illinois added to their first inning tally with a sacrifice fly to right field (0-3).
B1 | Shirah started the UAB response with an RBI single in the bottom of the first (1-3).
B3 | Dorsett took advantage of a shallow left-fielder, popping a double over the Saluki outfielder, scoring Jaycee Holt from first base (2-3).
B5 | Bennett sent a solo shot to left field for her first career home run and the Blazers' first homer of the year, tying the game (3-3).
B5 | UAB took the lead on a throwing error by the Saluki right fielder, allowing Perkins to score (4-3).
B6 | Bennett solidified the best game of her short career with a triple to right field, scoring two runs and giving the Blazers some insurance (6-3).
B6 | Shirah tallied her second RBI single of the game, driving in Bennett's triple.

Stat Lines

Bennett: 3-for-3, HR, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R, SH
Shirah: 3-for-4, 2 RBI
H. Tucker: 1-for-1, R
Dorsett: 1-for-4, 2B, R, RBI
Wilkins: 1-for-3, BB

In the Circle

Caitlin Russell started for the Blazers, going three innings and allowing all three Southern Illinois runs on five hits. Potter's home run was the first Russell has allowed this season. Russell walked one batter and struck out none.
McLendon relieved Russell in the fourth inning, allowing just three hits and striking out a pair of Salukis. McLendon didn't allow a run to the Salukis, her first scoreless appearance of the year.
McLendon earned her first win of the season, improving to 1-2.

Up Next

UAB finishes the Green and Gold Classic tomorrow at 9 a.m., against Missouri State. The tournament will continue with three games following UAB's final appearance of the weekend. All information for the Green and Gold Classic can be found here.