BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Behind the strength of Whitney Gilbert's one-hitter in game one, the 10th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team swept past Miles on Wednesday picking up a 9-0 victory before turning around to win 7-3 in the nightcap. The Chargers move to 22-7 on the season with the pair of victories.
 
Going the distance in the run-rule shortened contest, Gilbert (8-3) struck out an impressive nine batters in five innings while allowing just the one hit.
 
She was supported by a balanced offensive effort as the team's nine hits came from eight different players, and three Chargers recorded a home run in the contest including Kelli Long's leadoff shot in the third that made it 2-0.
 
Kathryn Whitlock and Mary Kelley also had long flies in the game, both coming in a seven-run fourth. Both were two-run jacks, and Long also drove in another run on a sacrifice fly in the inning to give each member of the trio two RBI for the game.
 
The second game was a scoreless affair until the third when Mallory McNeal drove in Long and Sam Deep to give the Chargers a 2-0 lead.
 
Kelli Pullin continued the scoring in the UAH half of the fourth as she singled in Ashley Bryant, and then Long tripled for the third time this season with Deep and Pullin scoring on the play.
 
After Jordyn Fones drove in a run to put the Chargers up 6-0 in the fifth, Miles pushed across three runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the UAH lead in half. That, however, would be all the Miles offense could muster, and McNeal's third RBI of the game in the sixth helped produce the 7-3 final.
 
Hannah Hogan (1-0) earned the victory for the Blue and White as she tossed four innings, giving up four hits and three runs – only two of which were earned. Christina Boczek threw the final three innings, working around five hits while striking out three.
 
For the game, the Chargers collected 12 hits as Long, McNeal, Kelley and Stephanie Needham each recorded a pair of hits.
 
UAH has now won five in a row and will be looking to improve their national ranking as the Chargers will return to action this weekend, going back into conference play by welcoming West Georgia and No. 2 Valdosta State. The Blue and White slipped to No. 10 this week in the latest NFCA rankings.