COLUMBIA, S.C. – UAB Softball swept the opening day at the Garnet & Black Invitational, defeating Marist and Queens. The Blazers walked off a 12-3 victory against Marist with Abbi Perkins’s first career grand slam. UAB recorded 14 hits against Marist, tied for the second most this season. Ashlyn Shirah led the Blazers to a 3-2 win over Queens with a three-run homer in the first inning. Shirah’s fourth homer as a Blazer set her career high with three RBI.

Charlee Bennett had another great day as a Blazer, going 3-for-4 with a triple and a walk against Marist. Jaycee Holt returned to the lineup, making a big impact by getting on base in five of her six plate appearances. Madeline Flammia broke out of her slump with a 2-for-2 game with a walk against Marist. A Carlie Wilkins two-run double flipped the Blazers’ energy against Marist, coming up big for UAB.

Olivia Cummings and Caitlin Russell each picked up wins. Cummings threw a career-high seven strikeouts in her fourth complete game of the season. Russell threw four no-hit innings to seal the Blazer win over Queens.

Notables


UAB scored 12 runs against Marist, the most this season.
The Blazers’ 14 hits against Marist were tied for the second-most this season.
Perkins hit her first career grand slam and first home run as a Blazer.
Perkins tied her career high with four RBI against Marist, tying May 5, 2023.
Shirah’s three RBI against Queens were a career-high.
All nine starters recorded a hit in the 12-3 win over Marist.
Cummings threw a career-high seven strikeouts vs Marist.

GAME ONE
Marist 3, UAB 12 (5 Inn.)
The Run Down


T1 | Marist opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single to right (0-1)
B1 | A dropped infield pop fly allowed the Blazers to respond instantly to tie the game (1-1).
T2 | A Pusey home run just over the right field fence put Marist up two runs (1-3).
B2 | Dorsett singled up the middle, allowing Flammia to score from second (2-3).
B3 | Wilkins turned the game over with a double to right center, scoring two runs (4-3).
B3 | Holt singled through the left side to score Wilkins (5-3)
B5 | Flammia got her second hit of the game with a single through the left side, scoring Hope Tucker (6-3).
B5 | Dorsett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for her second RBI of the game (7-3).
B5 | Bennett singled up the middle to move runners from station to station, scoring Flammia (8-3).
B5 | Perkins hit her first career grand slam to right field (12-3).

Stat Lines


Dorsett: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, R, HBP, 2 SB
Bennett: 3-for-4, 3B, RBI, 2 R
Perkins: 1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI, BB, 2 R
Wilkins: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R
H. Tucker: 1-for-3, 2B, R
Flammia: 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, BB
Holt: 2-for-2, RBI, R, BB

In the Circle


Cummings pitched her fourth complete game victory of the season, striking out a career high seven batters.
Cummings allowed three earned runs on five hits, a walk, and a hit batter.
She moved to 5-1 on the year.

GAME TWO
Queens 2, UAB 3
The Run Down


B1 | Shirah hit her first homer of the season on a line drive to left field, scoring Perkins and Bennett in the process (3-0).
T3 | Queens responded with their own homer with two outs, scoring a pair of runs (3-2).

Stat Lines


Bennett: 0-for-1, 2 BB, R
Shirah: 3-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
Holt: 1-for-2, BB

In the Circle


Tait Davidson got the start against Queens, going 3.0 innings and only allowing two hits.
Unfortunately, one of Davidson’s allowed hits was the two-run homer, the fifth homer Davidson has allowed this season.
Both of Davidson’s runs were earned. She walked three Royals and struck out one.
Russell relieved Davidson in the fourth inning, throwing four no-hit innings.
Russell walked just one batter, who was thrown out on the base paths. She struck out two hitters.

Up Next


The Blazers are back at the Garnet & Black Invitational tomorrow, Feb. 28, facing Queens at 9 a.m. CT before playing #22/#19 South Carolina at 11:30 a.m.