BIRMINGHAM – The bats came alive in the final game of the UAB Tournament as UAB (15-11) and Furman (7-17) combined for 18 hits and 14 runs in the Blazers 9-5 win over the Paladins Sunday morning.
It was all hands on deck from the UAB bullpen as the Blazers used all four pitchers to secure the victory. Amy Woodham (4-3) picked up the win for the Blazers after coming in in the fourth inning in relief of Sarah Cespedes who replaced starter Emily Kachel after three innings. Jaycee Cook pitched the final frame for the Green and Gold, striking out the final batter to end the game.
Furman threatened first in the top of the second getting the leadoff batter on board after being hit by a pitch. The next batter roped a double to right field over the head of Macey Petrey to put runners on second and third with no outs. Emily Kachel struck out the next three Paladin batters to end threat and keep the game scoreless.
UAB struck the first blow in the bottom of the third with five straight hits. KK Crocker started things off with a single to right field. Dylinn Stancil followed with a hit up the middle to put two on for Sierra Frazier. Frazier laced a single to the same spot to score Crocker. Analyse Petree was next singling up the middle, but Stancil was thrown out at home for the second out. Jenna Olszewski roped a bases clearing two RBI double to make it 3-0 in favor of the Blazers.
The Paladins responded with a five run fourth inning to take the lead. Furman got on the board with a leadoff home run followed by a double to left center, ending Kachel’s day in the circle. Cespedes entered the game for UAB but lasted only two thirds of an inning after allowing two hits, an RBI double and a three-run home run. Amy Woodham replaced Cespedes with two outs and forced Furman into a groundout to end the inning.
The Blazers tied things back up at 5-5 after a leadoff single from Faith Hegh followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases for Sierra Frazier. Frazier doubled to center to plate two runs for UAB in the bottom of the fourth.
Furman loaded up the bases with no outs to start the fifth, but the Blazers managed to work out of the inning with no damage done. Hegh bobbled a fly ball in right but caught it on the second try for the first out before throwing to third base for the double play after the runner failed to tag up. Woodham struck out the next batter to get UAB out of the inning.
UAB used a two out-rally in the sixth inning to plate four runs on three hits and take the 9-5 lead over the Paladins. It started with a one out bunt single from Crocker who was moved to second on a groundout from Kendall Jennings. Petree then reached on an error to load the bases for Olszewski who earned another RBI on an infield single scoring Crocker from third. With the bases still loaded Natalie Erwin drew a walk to bring the score to 7-5. Ashton Clem capped off the inning with a double to left center scoring Petree and Olszewski.
Cook worked the Blazers out of the top of the seventh to preserve the 9-5 win and wrap up a 4-1 weekend.
“I’m really proud of the way we competed all weekend,” said head coach Jimmy Kolaitis. “It was a total team effort, as we shuffled a lot of people around and gave some different looks. We grinded out four wins, which is tough to do. Pitching kept us in the first two games when we didn’t swing the bat great. Today, the offense picked us up. It was great to see Emily Kachel back in the circle and for her to give us the performances she did. It’s always tough to win on a Sunday but we found a way.”
Crocker, Sierra Frazier, Olszewski, and Clem all tallied two hits on the afternoon. Olszewski and Frazier each recorded three RBI and Clem added two of her own.
Kachel recorded four strikeouts and no walks in her three innings of work, allowing three hits. Cespedes and Woodham each struck out a pair of batters and Cook fanned one.
UAB returns to action at Mary Bowers Field on Wednesday, March 11 at 5 p.m. for the second annual Teal Game which was previously scheduled for Feb. 18.
Softball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65 here. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all UAB men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB softball team, follow @UAB_SB on Twitter and Instagram.
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