Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CULLMAN, Ala. | The second-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team cruised through the first day at the 2014 Gulf South Conference Softball Championships at Heritage Park on Thursday, winning 8-0 in five innings against Christian Brothers before taking an 8-2 decision from Delta State to advance to the final of the winner's bracket.
 
The squad will face Valdosta State at 11 a.m. on Friday in the winner's bracket final, and the contest will be streamed live on gscsports.org.
 
UAH 8, Christian Brothers 0
 
GSC Freshman of the Year Tyler Harrison had a terrific tournament debut as she drove in half of UAH's runs in the contest, going 2-for-3 including a two-run homer that ended the game in the fifth, and her four RBI in the game represents a season-high for the Mobile, Alabama, native.
 
She was not the only Charger to record a home run in the contest as Emily Glover (14-2) helped herself out with a two-run bomb in the fourth inning. In the circle, the First Team All-GSC selection went the distance in the run-ruled shortened game as she scattered four hits and struck out four while picking up her second shutout of the season.
 
The scoring for the Chargers – who outhit CBU by a 9-4 margin – started in the first when Mary Kelley and Harrison recorded back-to-back singles that drove in runs, and the team added to its 2-0 lead in the fourth when Glover's homer capped off a four-run frame as Macie Couey and Harrison also knocked in runs in the inning to make it 6-0.
 
 Seven of UAH's nine positions in the lineup recorded hits in the contest, and Harrison was joined by Victoria Frith as the pair recorded a pair of hits to provide UAH with its total of nine.
 
UAH 8, Delta State 2
 
The momentum generated by the quick contest against Christian Brothers carried over immediately into the first game as UAH – the visiting team in the contest – quickly jumped out to a 6-0 lead with three runs in the first matched by three scores in the second.
 
The three runs in the first inning were aided by a pair of Delta State miscues as Kaitlyn Bannister singled in Frith before Couey was able to come around to score on the same play on a throwing error by the DSU leftfielder, and Bannister proceeded to score during the next at-bat on a wild pitch.
 
The top of the UAH lineup then produced the three runs in the second as Couey drove in Brianna Sullivan with a single through the right side before Kelley drove one through the middle to plate both Frith and Couey to create the 6-0 advantage.
 
That lead would be more than enough for UAH starter Whitney Toler (10-2) as she scattered three hits in 5.2 innings of work, surrendering two unearned runs – one in the third and another in the fifth – while also striking out a batter.
 
Kimberly Jack pitched a perfect final four outs to complete the game in the circle for the Chargers.
 
The pitching staff was provided further run support as Couey homered for the fourth time this season in the fourth and Bannister drove in another run in the seventh.
 
For the contest, UAH racked up 10 hits compared to three for Delta State, and Couey was perfect at the plate going 4-for-4 with the two RBI and the run scored. Bannister also recorded a multi-hit performance as she tallied three in the game.