Blazers Run-Rule Queens, Lose in Heartbreaker to #22 South Carolina

Saturday, February 28

Columbia, S.C.

9 A.M.

UAB

10-8

Queens

2-7

UAB

Queens (NC)

Blazers Run-Rule Queens, Lose in Heartbreaker to #22 South Carolina

2/28/2026 3:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

COLUMBIA, S.C. - UAB Softball split day two at the Garnet & Black Invitational with a wide range of emotions. The Blazers opened the day with an 11-2 run-rule win over Queens, tallying a season-high 21 base runners. The Blazers then lost to #22/#19 South Carolina after taking the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a Charlee Bennett two-run double. Despite holding runners at their bases for two outs, the Gamecocks were able to convert on a second and third by beating out a ground ball, scoring both runners to take the lead in the sixth.

Dorsett led the Blazers with four hits, the first Blazer to do so this season. Abbi Perkins, Ashlyn Shirah, Olivia Tindell, Hope Tucker, and Madeline Flammia all recorded multiple hits against the Royals as well. The hits just kept coming for the Blazers, totaling 17 against Queens, tied for the season-high.

The UAB defense was on show against South Carolina. Flammia made a pair of standout plays at third base, including a picked hard ground ball to turn a double play and a diving stop to keep both runners from advancing. Shirah also shined in right field, making a catch at the top of the wall to stop multiple runs from scoring early in the game.

The Blazers took the lead over South Carolina with a two-run sixth inning. Flammia started the inning with a single to right field. Dorsett kept the inning going with a double down the right field line. Bennett doubled to right center, scoring both runners. The Gamecocks responded with a two-out, two-run single to retake the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Caitlin Russell and Olivia Cummings got the pitching decisions. Russell relieved McLendon, pitching two shutout innings, picking up her third win of the season. Cummings threw her fifth complete game of the year, the first to result in a loss.

Notables

UAB tallied 17 hits against Queens, tied for the team season-high.
The Blazers reached base 21 times against Queens, the most this season.
Dorsett tallied four hits against Queens, the most by a Blazer since Alyssa Aguilar did so on April 13, 2025, at UTSA.
Six Blazers recorded multiple hits against Queens, the second time UAB has done so this season (Feb. 8 vs Lipscomb).
Hannah Cole recorded her first career strikeout.

GAME ONE
UAB 11, Queens 2 (6 Inn.)
The Run Down

T1 | Shirah singled up the middle to score Dorsett (1-0).
T2 | Holt singled to left field, scoring Flammia (2-0).
T2 | Perkins doubled to left center, scoring Dorsett (3-0).
T2 | Shirah got her second RBI single of the game, scoring Bennett (4-0).
B2 | Queens responded in the bottom of the inning with a homer to center field (4-1).
B3 | The Blazer lead was down to two when Queens singled through the left side to score another run (4-2).
T5 | Miles singled to left to score Tindell (5-2).
T5 | Dorsett grounded to second base, advancing all runners and scoring Miles (6-2).
T5 | Perkins walked with the bases loaded to score Flammia (7-2).
T6 | A pair of sacrifice flies from Miles and Flammia drove in Tindell and H. Tucker (9-2).
T6 | Dorsett singled on a bunt, forcing an errant throw to allow Collett to score (10-2).
T6 | Henderson grounded into a fielder's choice, another throwing error allowed Dorsett to score (11-2).

Stat Lines

Dorsett: 4-for-5, RBI, 3 R, 4 A
Perkins: 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Shirah: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Tindell: 2-for-2, 2B, 2 R
Tucker: 2-for-3, R, SH
Miles: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R, SF
Flammia: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, SF, 2 R
Collett: 1-for-1, BB, R

In the Circle

Caroline McLendon got the start against Queens, throwing 3.0+ innings, facing just one hitter in the fourth.
McLendon allowed two earned runs on six hits and a walk.
Russell relieved McLendon in the fourth inning, allowing just one hit in two innings.
Working quickly, Russell only threw 21 pitches en route to her second scoreless appearance of the weekend.
Russell got the win, improving to 3-2 this season.
Hannah Cole made her first appearance since opening weekend, pitching a shutout and a hitless inning.
Cole struck out the first batter she faced, her first career strikeout.

GAME TWO
UAB 2, #22/#19 South Carolina 3
The Run Down

B4 | Anderson homered on a line drive to left field (0-1).
T6 | Bennett doubled to right center field to score Dorsett and Zaylen Tucker (2-1).
B6 | The Gamecocks responded with a two-run single up the middle (2-3).

Stat Lines

Bennett: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
Flammia: 1-for-2

In the Circle

Cummings threw her fifth complete game of the season, her first resulting in a UAB loss.
In 6.0 innings, Cummings allowed three earned runs on nine hits, one walk, and one hit-by-pitch.
Cummings threw 86 pitches in the loss, moving to 5-2 this season.

Up Next

UAB finishes the Garnet & Black Invitational tomorrow with a 9 a.m. CT first pitch against Marist, looking to complete the weekend swepe over the Red Foxes to finish 4-1 at the tournament.