SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team advanced in the 2012 Gulf South Conference Tournament on Friday as it defeated Christian Brothers 9-1 and North Alabama 12-6 to setup a Saturday contest against Valdosta State. The victories improve the Chargers to 41-12 on the season.
 
The contest against Christian Brothers saw the Chargers use both small ball and power to produce runs.
 
It was the unselfish style of play that gave the second-seeded squad its first run. After she ripped a double down the left field line, Kelli Long was knocked over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mary Kelley, and Long came in to score later in the frame when Kathryn Whitlock grounded one to the right side of the infield.
 
With the Chargers holding a 1-0 lead after a scoreless second inning, the team would again take a leadoff double and turn it into a run in the third.
 
Stephanie Needham doubled to left to start the frame, and Whitlock executed the sacrifice bunt perfectly to move her to third allowing Needham to score on Cortney McNett's single, putting the Chargers up 2-0.
 
It was in the fourth inning that the game transitioned for the UAH offense as Whitlocked picked up three more RBI as she belted a pitch over the fence in left for her 13th homer of the season, placing the Blue and White comfortably ahead 5-0.
 
After Whitney Toler (19-6) surrendered her only run – an unearned tally in the sixth – to make the score 5-1, Meagan Billingsley ended the game in the bottom frame of the inning with a grand slam to produce the 9-1 final.
 
Billingsley finished the contest a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with the four RBI, helping the Chargers outhit the Lady Bucs 10-5.
 
The second game started quite similarly to the way the first game concluded as McNett got things going with a bang as she blasted her 10th homer of the season over the fence in left with the bags juiced to produce a quick 4-0 lead for the Chargers.
 
Long then made it 6-0 in the second when she homered after Kellie Johnson had doubled, and after the Lions hit a two-run shot of their own in bottom of the second, McNett picked up another homer with a solo shot in top of the third to put the Chargers up 7-2.
 
North Alabama pulled to within one at 7-6 after scoring a pair in the third and in the fourth, but the Chargers received some breathing room when Long and Needham scored in the inning to make it 9-6. Needham then removed any doubt with a three-run shot – her 18th of the season – in the seventh to produce the 12-6 final after Toler shut the door on the Lions in the bottom of the inning.
 
Toler entered the game in the fourth to relieve UAH starter Whitney Gilbert, and she held UNA to just two hits an unearned run as she picked up her second victory of the day.
 
Both McNett and Needham were 3-for-4 at the plate to help UAH outhit the Lions 13-7.
 
The Saturday showdown with Valdosta State will be streamed live online and can be accessed at gscsports.org.