COLUMBUS, Ga. | The No. 18 University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team wrapped up the first weekend of 2016 with a pair of wins on Sunday, picking up run-rule wins by knocking off No. 1 North Georgia 16-7 and then beating August 9-0 with both contests lasting five innings. UAH starts off the new year at 3-1.
 
The Chargers have another busy weekend on tap coming up as they travel to Orange Beach, Alabama, for six games in three days starting on Friday with another showdown against the nation's top-ranked team.
 
UAH 16, North Georgia 7
 
 After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the Chargers used a strong discipline at the plate that resulted in a six-run first and an eight-run eighth for UAH over the country's preseason No. 1 and defending national champions.
 
Each of the runs in the first inning came without the benefit of a hit as three Chargers scored on wild pitches, while Abby Roberts and Jada Hayes both were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Savannah Smith drew a bases-loaded walk.
 
In the second, Roberts picked up another pair of RBI as she homered for the first time this season to start the scoring in the inning, and Haley Thompson drove in a run with a double later in the frame before Kaitlyn Bannister, Tyler Harrison, Roberts, Hayes, and Sarah Jordan all earned free passes with the bags packed to put the Chargers up 14-1.
 
North Georgia pulled back within the eight-run rule briefly with six runs in the top of the fifth, but Smith ended the game with her third homer of the season – a two-run shot that produced the 16-7 final.
 
Emily Glover earned the win in the circle.
 
Roberts finished the contest with a team-best four RBI with Smith right behind her with three.
 
UAH 9, Augusta 0
 
The Chargers then wrapped up the weekend with another win as the bats pounded out 10 hits in the victory over Augusta, providing more than enough support to Tyler Harrison who earned the shutout and her first win of the season in the circle.
 
Starting the scoring in the contest was Smith who picked up her 11th RBI of the season in the first when she doubled in Brianna Sullivan, and Hayes made a 3-0 game later in the inning with a two-run single.
 
The lead doubled in the second as Harrison found the gap in right-center with the bases loaded, and the big hit gave the junior eight RBI in the season's first four games.
 
Taylor Wascavage belted her first career home run in the third with Glover on to make it an 8-0 game, and Smith reached on an error on a play that also saw Haley Thompson score creating what ended up being the 9-0 final score.
 
Picking up two hits apiece in the contest were Wascavage and Sullivan, while Smith, Hayes, Glover, and Thompson each reached base twice with a hit and a walk.