BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team was no-hit by No. 14 Oklahoma State 3-0 before falling to Ole Miss 14-11 in a wild 13 inning game in day two of the Blazer Classic.
Oklahoma State (8-4) pitcher Carrie Eberle threw her first career no-hitter to record the 3-0 shutout of UAB. Sierra Frazier’s game tying home run in the sixth inning sent UAB (8-6) and Ole Miss (5-9) into extras, resulting in six back-and-forth extra innings before Abbey Latham’s three run shot in the 13th inning lifted Ole Miss over UAB.
No. 14 Oklahoma State 3, UAB 0
Neither team scored until the top half of the fifth inning, when Oklahoma State (8-4) struck first. The leadoff batter, Mady Lohman roped a single down the left field line to reach base before an infield single by the nine-hole hitter, Karli Petty, pushed Lohman into scoring position. A double with two outs by Alysen Febrey scored both runs and gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
Oklahoma State struck again in the seventh, as Petty reached second on a leadoff double before another two-base hit by Kiley Naomi gave the Cowgirls an insurance run and put them up, 3-0.
Sierra Frazier reached first base in the bottom half of the final frame on a dropped third strike but was stranded as the Blazers’ rally attempt was cut short.
Ole Miss 14, UAB 11 (13 inn.)
Abbey Latham’s three run home run in the top of the 13th inning was the final blow Ole Miss needed to defeat UAB on Saturday night.
The Rebels struck first in the top half of the third inning after a solo shot from Autumn Gillespie and a sac fly from Gabby Alvarez put Ole Miss up 2-0. Ole Miss tacked on another run in the sixth inning off a sac fly from Jessica Puk scored Reagan Cheyne.
Sierra Frazier knotted the game at three all with a three-run blast in the bottom of the sixth after Jenna Olszewski and Dylinn Stancil reached base on singles. The home run was the fourth of the season for Frazier. The score would hold through seven, sending the game into extra innings.
The Blazers and Rebels each scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to keep the game even at six.
In the top half of the 10th inning a sac fly from Puk scored Nyomi Jones, who was on base as part of the international tiebreaker rules. On the ensuing at bat Latham sent a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run to make it 9-6. The Blazers answered after a single by Stancil moved KK Crocker to third and then a fielder’s choice scored Crocker, leaving one runner on with two outs for Analyse Petree. Petree sent a moon shot to left field for a two-run home run to tie the game again, 9-9.
The Blazers and Rebels mirrored each other once again in the 11th and 12th innings, each team pushing across one more runs to head to the 13th inning tied 10-10.
In the top of the 13th, Ole Miss pushed four runs across with an RBI double and Latham’s second home run of the night to lead 14-10. UAB was able to score one more run off a double from Erwin, but the marathon game ended 14-11 in favor of the Rebels.
Sarah Cespedes moved to 1-3 on the season with the loss after coming in relief for Amy Woodham who replaced starter Jaycee Cook. Cook pitched the first five and two third innings for UAB recording four strikeouts while giving up nine hits and three runs, two earned. Woodham entered in the middle of the fifth inning and went four and a third innings giving up six runs off six hits with three strikeouts. Cespedes pitched the final three innings giving up five runs off three hits while fanning three batters.
Stancil went five of six at the plate for UAB. Frazier led the team with four RBI followed by Petree with three.
UAB will close out the Blazer Classic Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against No. 11 Louisiana.
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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