CORPUS CHRISTI – UAB jumped out to an early lead in the first inning before scoring in the third and fourth frames to secure a 6-1 win over the the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team on the second day of the Islanders Invitational at Chapman Field. The Blazers outhit the Islanders 8-3 and was powered by the pitching of Megan Smith.
Junior Cosette Hernandez, senior Hayley Galloway and senior Mickayla Cochran each collected a hit for the Islanders (0-8) in the loss.
JoJo Fallen went 2-for-2 to lead the Blazers' (3-3) offense, while SaraBeth Williamson hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning.
UAB tacked on the first run of the game in the bottom of the first after Fallen hit a double to right field and scored on a RBI single to right field by Hayley Davis. Following a scoreless second inning, Hernandez ripped a hard single to third base for the Islanders' first hit of the game. The junior then landed on third after a sacrifice bunt by Galloway and a ground out by Cochran. However, the Blazers escaped the inning as Fallen recorded her second strikeout of the game.
In the bottom of the third, UAB padded its lead to 2-0 after Heather Pearson drilled a leadoff triple to right field and scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Fallen to center field. Carter then registered her first punch out of the game to end the frame.
The Blazers then received a big inning from Williamson in the bottom of the fourth as she hit a three-run home run after a single and hit by pitch with one out. UAB plated another run as Caitlin Attfield hit a RBI single through the right side to plate Pearson, who reached on a fielder's choice following a walk by Anna Theriot.
A&M - Corpus Christi answered with a run of their own in the top of the sixth. Galloway started things off with an infield single and Cochran followed with her second double of the season with a shot to left center to score Galloway, but was called out at third as she tried to advance. Smith then picked up her sixth strikeout of the game before Savannah Sandoval grounded out to second base to end the rally.
Carter (0-5) suffered the loss in six innings for the Islanders. The sophomore allowed eight hits, six runs, five of them earned, while walking one and striking out four Blazers.
Smith (3-2) recorded the win in the circle for UAB. She limited the Islanders to three hits and one run while striking out six in seven innings.
The Islanders will continue action in the invitational on Saturday, Feb. 14, when they host South Dakota at 3 p.m.
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