Feb. 19, 2011

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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- UAB pitcher Lannah Campbell tossed an outstanding game and led the Blazer softball team in a defensive battle that resulted in extra innings against No. 25 DePaul, but the Blazers fell 1-0 to the Blue Demons in the bottom of the eighth Saturday at the USF Tournament at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

With the loss, UAB falls to 4-5, while DePaul improves to 7-1.

Campbell (0-1) struck out nine batters, held DePaul to just three hits and allowed no earned runs in her first collegiate start. DePaul's Kirsten Verdun picked up the win, fanning seven batters and giving up no earned runs.

"I was very proud of the way that we came out and played today against a very quality team," UAB head coach Marla Townsend said." Lannah in her first start as a freshman pitched an outstanding game, a game good enough that we could have won. We did a great job of getting runners on and in scoring position, but DePaul did a great job of playing solid defense."

The Green and Gold were unable to take advantage of starting Caley Walden on second in the top of the eighth, even though she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Catherine Douglass.

In the bottom of the inning, Katelyn Braget laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bree Brown, who started on second, to third. Lynsey Ciezki then struck out swinging, but reached first on a dropped third strike. The Blue Demons loaded the bases when Campbell intentionally walked Alex Morocco. Next up, Lindsey Dean belted the game-winning RBI single to second base.

During regulation, the Blazers put two runners in scoring position in both the second and seventh innings, but couldn't take advantage of the opportunities.

In the fourth inning, UAB made a big defensive stop after DePaul put runners on second and third. Samantha Dodd doubled and moved to third after Verdun reached on a fielding error by Kayla Orr. Pinch runner Sarah Shizas then stole second. Marla Mathews knocked a hit to shortstop Kayla Orr, who threw to catcher Mandy Lowman to get Dodd out at home. The next batter grounded out to Orr to get the Blazers out of the inning unscathed.

UAB concludes the USF Tournament Sunday with a contest against Fordham at 10:30 a.m. ET.