BIRMINGHAM – The UAB softball team will host its third top-15 team in seven days when No. 8 Alabama comes to Mary Bowers Field Wednesday night.
UAB (8-7) had a tough weekend against some of the top teams in the country going 0-4 in the Blazer Classic. UAB fell to No. 11 Louisiana, No. 14 Oklahoma State and Ole Miss twice, including a 13-inning marathon game against the Rebels that lasted over four hours.
The Blazers have already been tested heavily this season with three of its seven losses coming to top-15 teams. On opening weekend, the Blazers just barely fell at the hands of then No. 1 Washington after overcoming a 6-0 deficit to tie the game at 7-7 before the top-ranked Huskies walked it off in the bottom of the seventh.
Dylinn Stancil has had a stellar start to her senior campaign, she leads the team and conference in batting average (.481) through three weeks of the season. Stancil is second in C-USA in hits with 25 and is the only player in the conference with five hits in a single game, which she has done twice now.
Alabama (9-5) started off the season 1-3 with three straight losses to Florida State (twice) and North Carolina. The Crimson Tide redeemed themselves the next weekend at the St. Pete Clearwater Invitational starting the weekend 3-0, run ruling then No. 1 Washington before falling to No. 2 UCLA and No. 16 Oklahoma State. The Tide wrapped up the Easton Bama Bash a perfect 5-0 last weekend with a win over Wichita State and a pair of wins against Penn State and Louisville.
Alabama has one of the most dangerous bullpens in the country with reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Montana Fouts and SEC Pitcher of the Year Sarah Cornell as well as senior Krystal Goodman and freshman phenom Lexi Kilfoyl. The Tide bats have been solid so far with the team batting average sitting at .319 on the season led by KB Sides, younger sister of UAB softball alum Katlyn Sides.
The Blazers have never beaten Alabama, going 0-25 against the Crimson Tide. The first meeting between the two teams came in February of 2000. The Tide took down UAB twice last season en route to an SEC Championship and Women’s College World Series berth. The Blazers, however, have not backed down against top-ranked opponents this season, making for an exciting matchup between the in-state schools.
First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Wednesday night with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. for fans.
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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