VALDOSTA, Ga. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team's run at the 2015 Gulf South Conference Softball Championships came to a close on Saturday as Shorter defeated the Chargers 3-1 in a game that had a championship berth on the line. UAH falls to 39-14, while the Hawks improve to 34-15.
 
UAH will now await word on its NCAA tournament fate as the Division II Softball Committee will announce the postseason field on Monday at 9 a.m. UAH was fourth in the latest regional poll but suffered setbacks to No. 3 North Alabama and No. 5 Shorter this weekend.
 
Shorter opened the scoring on Saturday as Ericka Bynum doubled in a run in the first, but the tally was unearned Maggie Meachum had reached on an error earlier in the frame before scoring.
 
Threatening to answer back right away, Perri Gilbert and Victoria Frith strung together singles to lead off the home half of the inning, but though UAH would eventually load the bags, Shorter pitcher Maddie Bray was able to wiggle out of the jam with her team's 1-0 lead intact.
 
Neither team was able to do much offensively in the next four innings as a Shorter single in the fourth was the only hit during that span, but the Hawks would eventually tack onto their lead by scoring a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to go in front 3-0.
 
Gilbert picked up her second hit of the game in the home half, and after Victoria Frith sacrificed herself to move Gilbert to second, Gilbert was able to score and cut into the deficit when Abby Roberts singled up the middle making it 3-1.
 
The Chargers nearly scored again on the play as Shorter's catcher threw the ball all the way to the centerfield fence attempting to get Roberts at second, but GSC Freshman of the Year Niki Cook was able to retrieve the ball and fire it back in with Roberts out at home.
 
The Chargers threatened again in the seventh as Tyler Harrison walked and Savannah Smith doubled to put the tying run in scoring position for Emily Glover who made a bid for a walk-off homer with a long fly that was just foul down the line to left before Kalei Kimbrell was able to strike her and Victoria Crumpton out.
 
Michal Robertson would draw a walk to load the bases for the Chargers, but Kimbrell preserved the win, earning the save with her third strikeout of the inning.
 
Taking the loss in the circle for the Chargers was Tyler Harrison who was terrific in the tournament, and this outing was no exception as she worked around six hits while giving up just two earned runs and striking out seven.
 
Shorter outhit UAH on the day, as Gilbert was the lone Charger to have a multi-hit day.