Blazers Fall Short Despite Shirah Grand Slam

Thursday, April 30

Boca Raton, Fla.

5 P.M.

UAB

20-31, 7-18

Florida Atlantic

32-18, 13-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UAB	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	4	5	0
Florida Atlantic	0	2	2	1	0	0	X	5	7	0

Blazers Fall Short Despite Shirah Grand Slam

4/30/2026 9:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - UAB Softball lost 5-4 in the series opener at Florida Atlantic, despite Ashlyn Shirah hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning. The Blazers were outhit 7-5, with three of their five hits coming in the fifth inning, leading to Shirah's grand slam.

Florida Atlantic grew its lead early with a pair of doubles in the second to take an early 2-0 lead before home runs in the third and fourth innings, adding three more runs for Florida Atlantic.

Shirah battled long in the full-count, bases-loaded at bat before finding her pitch and crushing the ball over the left-centerfield fence for her first career grand slam. Shirah's slam gives her a team-high nine home runs on the season and 42 RBI, the eighth most in a season in UAB history.

Outside of the fifth inning, the Blazers struggled with any momentum offensively, as Florida Atlantic retired 18 of the 19 batters in the other six innings combined.

Caroline McLendon got her first start in over a month, but lasted into the third inning, giving up four earned runs on five hits and a walk in 2.0+ innings pitched. Tait Davidson relieved McLendon, throwing four innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits and two walks.

Notables

Shirah's four RBI give her 42 on the season, the eighth most ever in a UAB season.
Charlee Bennett earned the Blazers' only walk of the night, her 34^th of the season. Bennett is now tied with Holly Krzan's 2008 total. Bennett is two walks away from tying second-place Heather Pearson (2014).

The Run Down

B2 | South Florida opened the scoring with a double down the right field line, moving a baserunner to third, who scored on the throw back into the infield (0-1).
B2 | A double to center field drove in the prior double to give Florida Atlantic a two-run lead (0-2).
B3 | The Owls doubled their lead with a two-run home run to right field (0-4).
B4 | Florida Atlantic added one more on a long home run to right field (0-5).
T5 | Shirah chopped the Florida Atlantic lead to one with her first career grand slam to left centerfield (4-5).

Stat Lines

Shirah: 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBI, R
Kaily Collett: 1-for-3, 2B, R
Jaycee Holt: 1-for-2, R
Antonia Henderson: 1-for-3
Bennett: 0-for-1, BB

In the Circle

McLendon: 2.0 IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 1K, 1HR
- McLendon made her first start since Mar. 25 at Ole Miss.
Davidson: 4.0 IP< 2h,="" 1r,="" 1er,="" 2bb,="" 0k,="">

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