April 26, 2008

Houston 4, UAB 0 | Houston 8, UAB 3

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The UAB softball team was hurt by errors as they dropped two games to No. 9 Houston, 4-0 and 8-3, Saturday at George Ward Park.

The Blazers fall to 23-31 and 8-12 in the conference after Houston's two victories. The Cougars improve to a conference best 42-7 and 17-2 in league play.

Sunday's series finale is schedule for a 1 p.m. start time. Seniors Mary Kendall Butler, Holly Krzan, Jennifer Nelson and Leigh Walker will all be honored before the game, which will be the last home games of their careers.

Errors hurt UAB who committed six over the two games. All togther seven runs scored due to errors by the Blazers.

"They obviously really hurt us tonight," Townsend said. "When you give teams, especially ones like Houston, second chances to score runs because of errors they will take advantage of them."

The Blazers fell behind early, but managed to keep the game within reach before Houston's Laurie Wagner hit 16th home run of the season to make it a 3-0 Houston lead in the fourth inning.

UAB's bats were held in check by pitcher Angel Shamblin, who gave up just two hits, while striking out nine.

Walker and Laura Callaway were the two Blazers who picked up hits against Shamblin (26-2).

Kayla Harris (10-11) took the loss as she went the distance, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, walking five and striking out two.

Katie Bush finished the game 3-for-3 and Jessica Valis collected two hits, a run and RBI.

In game two, UAB jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Harris who hit her third home run of the season, in the first inning. She knocked in Leigh Walker who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.

Houston responded scoring five runs in the second inning and a three-run three in the third inning. The majority of the runs were scored in large part of three UAB errors. Of the eight runs that scored, only eight were RBI.

Jennifer Nelson (13-20) lasted three innings, as she allowed four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out two batters in the first inning, moving herself 13 strikeouts shy of 800-career Ks.

Barbie Love (10-2) picked up the victory for Houston. She pitched seven innings, giving up four hits, and striking out nine.

Krzan became the Blazers' all-time leader in games played in game one. She broke Cliffanie Engram's record of 233 games played at UAB.

UAB is now 0-5 against teams ranked in the top 25 this season. The Blazers have lost their last five games.