Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team earned a Wednesday sweep of host Union, winning 5-2 in the day's first game before turning around to hang on for a 2-0 victory in the nightcap. The Chargers improve to 21-11 (12-4 Gulf South Conference), while Union slips to 12-11 (7-10 GSC).
 
UAH will return to action on Saturday when West Alabama visits Charger Park at 2 p.m.
 
UAH 5, Union 2
 
After a scoreless first, the Chargers would post a four-spot on the board in the visiting half of the second as Mary Kelley doubled into left to clear the bases as Brianna Sullivan, Mallory McNeal and Kellie Johnson all scored on the play that came after Sullivan had drawn a bases-loaded walk to plate Nicole Bobrowski in the previous at-bat.
 
The score would remain 4-0 in favor of UAH until a fantastic at-bat by Abby MacKay in the fifth resulted in a run as she fouled off several pitches before lacing the ball into centerfield to score Kathryn Whitlock and provide a 5-0 advantage for the guests.
 
Whitney Toler (9-1) enjoyed five innings of shutout ball before Union was able to score twice on a two-run homer with two outs in the fifth. Helping her own cause as she matched her season-high with eight strikeouts, the junior also received strong support from her defense in the contest.
 
With runners at first and second and none out in the fourth, Toler started a double play on a bunt that was popped up to her, and she threw to first to double off the runner and essentially end the Union threat in that inning.
 
The Charger outfield was also strong as two bids for extra bases were thwarted in the fifth when Kelley made two fantastic catches – one over her shoulder and the other up against the wall – in left, and prior to the homer in the sixth on a ball hit into deep center, centerfielder McNeal threw a perfect strike to Johnson at short who then relayed it to Cortney McNett to throw out a would-be run at the plate.
 
Kimberly Jack was perfect in 1.1 innings of relief as she earned her third save of the season.
 
UAH 2, Union 0
 
UAH scored the first run in the second contest as a McNeal single to right plated Whitlock, and the score remained 1-0 until the seventh.
 
The Chargers had several opportunities to tack onto the lead but finished the game leaving seven on base, while the hosts did not have many chances at all through much of the contest as Whitney Gilbert (5-6) limited the opposition to just four hits – one in both the third and fourth innings before allowing a pair in the sixth.
 
Gilbert – who finished the contest with four strikeouts – then gave way to Kimberly Jack.
 
After Jack struck out a Union batter for the second out of the frame, it appeared as if the defense that was so strong in the first game would lead to the contest being tied in the home frame. With runners at first and second, a batted ball to third was misplayed but after the runner was safe at first, but the first baseman Bobrowski threw home and McNett applied a perfect tag as Union tried to score on the play but was instead thrown out for the final out of the inning.
 
UAH then received insurance in the seventh when McNeal singled and advanced to second when the left field misplayed the ball, and she stood at third after a perfect sacrifice bunt by Meagan Billingsley, allowing her to score on a wild pitch to produce a 2-0 lead.
 
Jack then retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory for her fourth save of the year.
 
The Chargers outhit Union 9-4 in the contest as McNeal finished the contest a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate while Whitlock also picked up a pair of hits.