STARKVILLE, Miss. – Sarah Cespedes and Amy Woodham combined for a two-hit shutout as UAB softball (10-10) picked up the 4-0 win over UT Martin (12-8) in its final game of the Snowman Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament.
UAB struck first in the second inning as Analyse Petree roped a one out double down the left field line and advanced to third on an infield ground ball. Ashton Clem followed, going opposite field to score Petree for the first run of the game with a single to right.
Sarah Cespedes did not allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth when Chelsey Gore hit an infield single to reach base. A bunt moved Gore to second, putting a Skyhawk runner in scoring position with two outs. On the next at bat, Kallie Pickens singled to right field, but Jenna Olszewski threw a laser to home to tag out Gore in a bang-bang play for the final out of the inning.
Clem led off the fifth with a double to right center and advanced to third on a sac bunt from Sadie Frazier. Clem was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice that allowed Sam Bean to reach first. KK Crocker hit a two out single to short stop to put two runners on with two outs but Olszewski grounded out to end the top half of the inning with no runs scored for the Green and Gold.
Amy Woodham entered the game in relief of Cespedes in the bottom of the fifth. Woodham retired the side with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout back to the mound to end the inning.
The Blazers added to their lead in the sixth as couple of errors put Dylinn Stancil on third and Petree on second with one out for pinch hitter Macey Petrey. Petrey singled up the right side of the field, scoring Stancil and then advanced to second on another UT Martin error, scoring Petree. Clem and Sadie Frazier loaded the bases after a couple of hit by pitches and the Blazers pushed one more run across as Crocker singled to left field scoring Petrey, making it 4-0 UAB.
Woodham threw a five-pitch sixth inning and kept the Skyhawk batters at bay again in the seventh to preserve the shutout and give UAB the 4-0 win.
“The last few weeks have been a grind for us with a tough schedule and some injuries,” said head coach Jimmy Kolaitis. “We had some up and down moments, but we finished the weekend on a high note. We need to continue to find our identity and play at the level we are capable of playing at. Monday will give us a chance to recharge our batteries and get back to work. We face a tough UNA team for a midweek, then we are back home for a weekend at Mary Bowers Field.”
Cespedes (2-5) picked up the win in the circle throwing four innings allowing only two hits and one walk. Woodham pitched the final three innings for the Blazers allowing no hits and striking out three.
Clem, Crocker and Macey Petrey each picked up an RBI for the Green and Gold. Clem went 2-for-2, Crocker went 3-for-4 and Analyse Petree went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the UAB offense.
UP NEXT FOR UAB…
The Blazers will travel to Florence, Ala. to take on North Alabama in a midweek matchup at 5 p.m. on March 4.
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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