DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Splitting its final day at North Georgia, the top-ranked UAH softball team defeated No. 24 Columbus State 4-0 before falling to No. 2 North Georgia 10-5. The Chargers record now sits at 16-5 on the season.
 
In the first contest, Whitney Gilbert (5-3) tossed her first shutout of the season as she worked around six hits and struck out seven Columbus State batters while walking just one in picking up the victory in the circle.
 
Her masterful performance allowed the Chargers to win even though the UAH offense could only produce four hits.
 
Stephanie Needham had two of the hits including a two-run bomb in the first that quickly put the Blue and White in front 2-0. The homer marked the 10^th of the season for the Trussville, Ala., native.
 
The game remained 2-0 in favor of UAH until the Chargers tacked on a run on an Abby MacKay bunt that scored Mallory McNeal, and the squad added on another insurance run in the top half of the seventh when Mary Kelley doubled in Kelli Long to produce the 4-0 final.
 
In the second game, the Chargers trailed 1-0 after giving up a run in first, but UAH answered back in their half of the second as Kathryn Whitlock homered for the sixth time this season. Her two-run jack scored MacKay and put UAH on top 2-0.
 
North Georgia responded with three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to take 5-2 lead, but the Chargers had an answer for that also.
 
Kellie Johnson produced the first run of the UAH frame when she doubled to plate Kelli Pullin, and Long blasted her second homer of the season in the next at-bat to knot things up at 5-5.
 
Unfortunately, the Saint put up five runs in their half of the seventh to take the contest 10-5.
 
Gilbert picked up the loss as she pitched three innings of relief of starter Whitney Toler.
 
The Chargers will return to action next weekend as they open Gulf South Conference play on the road at Christian Brothers and Delta State.