2013 Softball 2012 Season In Review 2012 Year In Review The UAB softball team completed a 2012 campaign that was highlighted by the program’s best finish in Conference USA and a thirdconsecutive at-large bid to the NCAA Championship. The Blazers, led by head coach Marla Townsend, ended the season 37-22 and finished second in conference play at 17-7. Additionally, UAB had six players earn Conference USA postseason awards. 30-Win Mark The Blazers earned their 30th win of the season on April 21 with a 8-0, five-inning victory at UTEP. It marked the third straight year and sixth time in program history that UAB reached the 30-win plateau. UAB went on to finish with 37 wins, tied for second-most in program history. NCAA Appearances The UAB softball made its third-consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament last season. UAB traveled to the Knoxville Regional hosted by No. 5 Tennessee. The Blazers fell to Virginia Tech, 4-1, in the opening round and then fell to Tennessee, 8-0 (5), in an elimination game. RPI
Individual Honors NFCA Division I All-Region First Team – Mandy Lowman NFCA Division I All-Region Second Team – Kayla Orr C-USA All-Tournament Team – Kristen McGrath C-USA Co-Newcomer of the Year – Whitney Fletcher All-Conference USA First Team – Mandy Lowman All-Conference USA Second Team – Whitney Fletcher, Catherine Crawford, Lannah Campbell, Kristen McGrath C-USA All-Freshman Team – Heather Pearson C-USA All-Academic Team – Mandy Lowman, Catherine Crawford C-USA Hitter of the Week – Whitney Fletcher (3/19, 4/23) C-USA Pitcher of the Week – Lannah Campbell (3/12, 4/30), Amber Torres (4/23) Finishing Strong With a 17-7 league record, the Blazers finished the 2012 regular season in second place in C-USA, the highest-ever finish in school history. In addition, UAB earned the program’s highest seed in the C-USA Championship at No. 2. C-USA Championship UAB hosted the 2012 Conference USA Softball Championship for the first time in program history. The Blazers advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 first-round win over Memphis, but were then defeated by Marshall, 3-2 (10). UAB Records Broken The squad hit six home runs at Kentucky (3/18), topping the single-game record of five set by the 2002 squad vs. Alabama A&M. In addition, the team surpassed the single-season home run record of 40 set in 2009. The team finished with 53 long balls with the record-breaking homer hit at Chattanooga by Heather Pearson - a three-run blast for her first as a Blazer. Senior Mandy Lowman set a new UAB career home run record when she hit her 27th vs. Kentucky (3/18), topping the 26 Andrea Rodgers hit (2006-2009). Lowman finished with 11 homers in 2012 and 32 in her career. Lowman also set a new UAB career RBI record with 126, surpassing Cliffanie Engram’s 124 (2000-03).
UAB reached the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight season in 2013. UAB never ranked below No. 49 in the RPI during the season as the Blazers played the 15th toughest non-conference schedule in the country. On April 16, UAB had its highest-ever RPI ranking at No. 33.
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