Southern Miss
UAB
Rally Falls Short as UAB Outlasts Softball
4/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southern Miss softball team used a late rally to pull to within one, 3-2, to UAB on Sunday afternoon but ultimately dropped a 5-2 decision on the road at the UAB Softball Field.
The Golden Eagles finished the day with five hits, including a pair of doubles. Samantha Reynolds, Katie Cleary, Selena Estrada, Arielle Pollock and Sarah Evans each recorded hits on the day with Estrada and Pollock each notching doubles. Shelbee Rodgers and Kaelyn Christofferson each scored runs on the day while Estrada drove in a run. Morgan McKeever, Michelle Stringer, Jenifer Gary and Reynolds all reached base with walks on the day.
In the circle, Shelbee Rodgers tossed 6.0 innings in a losing effort. The senior surrendered five runs (four earned runs) on seven hits and two walks whiles striking out a pair. Rodgers settled down after allowing three runs on one bad pitch to notch four straight innings of shutout ball, including three 1-2-3 innings.
UAB took an early lead with three runs in the first inning. The Blazers sued a three-run home run from Heather Pearson to take the early advantage.
Southern Miss threatened in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Pollock doubled to right center field. Stringer and Gary followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning and the Golden Eagle threat.
After the first inning, the Black and Gold used solid pitching and defense to keep the game close. Rodgers posted a 1-2-3 inning in the second, stranded a base runner in the third and sat the Blazers down in order in the fourth.
The Golden Eagles rallied in the fifth inning. With one out, Evans delivered a pinch hit single through the left side of the infield to start things off for Southern Miss. Christofferson re-entered the game to run at first base. Reynolds followed by reaching on a fielder's choice. On the play, the UAB shortstop's errant throw not only allowed Christofferson to reach second safely, but come around to score from first base. Reynolds alertly advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Cleary stepped in as a pinch hitter and singled through the right side of the infield. Reynolds tried to score from second, but a pin-point accurate throw from right field recorded the second out. Rodgers re-entered the game to run for Cleary at first base. She moved to second as McKeever drew a walk. Rodgers came around to score as Estrada laced a RBI double to left center field. The Blazers went to the bullpen and the new pitcher was able to end the inning with a strikeout with the Golden Eagles down 3-2.
Rodgers tossed another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, but the Blazers added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. UAB used a walk, a double and a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. The next batter singled and a fielding error by the Golden Eagles allowed two runs to score. Rodgers struck out the next batter for the first out of the inning and Bailey Stokes picked off the runner at second for out number two. Stringer caught a liner on the hot corner for the final out, but Southern Miss trailed 5-2.
The Black and Gold were unable to score in the seventh inning, dropping the three-run decision.
Southern Miss concludes the season with a three-game home series against Florida Atlantic at the Softball Complex. Live stats, live video and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the weekend series.
