STARKVILLE, Miss. – UAB softball (9-8) split day one of the Snowman Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament with a 6-0 win over Alcorn State (5-16) and a run-rule loss to Mississippi State (14-3).
The Blazers tallied six runs in each game with 18 total hits on the day.
ALCORN STATE 0, UAB 6
Jaycee Cook (3-0) pitched a gem for the Blazers in game one of the Snowman. The freshman tossed a four-hit complete game shutout in the circle to earn her third win of the season.
UAB struck first in the top of the second inning as Faith Hegh singled through the left side of the field and then stole second. Hegh advanced to third on a wild pitch setting up a sac fly from Natalie Erwin to bring in the first run of the game.
The Blazers clung to a narrow 1-0 lead until the UAB offense broke things open in the fifth inning. With Erwin aboard from a hit by pitch, KK Crocker singled to put two on for Jenna Olszewski who moved the runners on a fielder’s choice. With two on and one away Dylinn Stancil roped a single to right center to score Erwin and Crocker. Sierra Frazier and Analyse Petree reached on singles, loading the bases for Hegh. A sac fly from Hegh scored Stancil. Ashton Clem drew a walk to load the bases again for Gabi Apiag who singled to left plating Frazier for the fourth run of the inning.
UAB tallied one more run in the seventh inning off Reece Martin’s first career RBI, a single to the pitcher that scored Sadie Frazier. Cook ended the game striking out her fourth batter of the afternoon to give the Blazers a 6-0 win to open the weekend.
Stancil and Sierra Frazier continued to swing the hot bats for UAB. Stancil went 2-for-3 with two RBI while Frazier went 3-for-4 with a double and one run.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 16, UAB 6
The bats were alive in game number two as the Blazers and Bulldogs combined for 22 runs off 22 hits ending in a 16-6 run rule loss for UAB.
Mississippi State piled on seven runs in the first inning off eight hits, all of which stayed inside the park.
UAB responded with a three run second inning to bring the score within four. Hegh and Clem reached base on a pair of singles and Erwin drew a walk, loading the bases for Apiag. A sac fly scored Hegh and advanced both runners. With two outs Crocker laced a two RBI double to right center field to make it 7-3.
The Bulldogs regained a commanding 11-3 lead in the bottom of the second off a pair of singles and a three-run home run by Lindsey Williams.
Stancil doubled to right center to lead off the third inning and Frazier followed up with a single putting two on for Petree who raked her fourth home run of the season bringing the score to 11-6.
Back-to-back jacks for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the third increased the lead and a triple scored another run to make it 15-6 in favor of Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs would tack on one more run in the fourth and hold the Blazer offense without any hits in the final two frames, ending the game in the fifth inning, 16-6.
Sarah Cespedes (1-4) started in the circle for UAB pitching 1.1 innings before being replaced by Cook. Cook pitched for one inning before Cespedes re-entered the game in relief.
Up next for UAB…
The Blazers will return for day two of the Snowman Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m. against UT Martin followed by a rematch with Mississippi State at 3 p.m. The game against Mississippi State will be available to stream on SECN+ on the ESPN app.
# UAB #
