BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama softball team dropped a 5-1 decision to UAB Tuesday afternoon at George Ward Park in Birmingham, Ala.  USA will enter Sun Belt Conference play with a 13-9 record, while UAB improves to 15-11 with the win over the Jaguars.

The Blazers got on the board first in the third inning when Nicole Tumlin hit a two-RBI single, plating Allison Davis and Holly Krzan.

In the top of the fourth, Corey Race hit a lead-off solo home run to center field to cut the deficit to 2-1, but UAB added three more runs in the next three innings to take a 5-1 win. 

Linden Jones (8-5) took the loss for the Jags giving up four runs on seven hits in five innings of work.  Kayla Harris (4-4) picked up the win, striking out seven and only giving up one run on two hits.

The Jaguars will begin SBC play at home on March 17-18 against North Texas, with a double header on Saturday scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and a single game on Sunday scheduled for 10:30 a.m.