HUNTSVILLE | The 18th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep of visiting West Alabama on the first day of Gulf South Conference action, knocking off the Tigers 13-2 in five innings in the first game before picking up a 12-3 win in six innings in the nightcap.
 
UAH extends its winning streak to seven games while improving its record to 10-2 (2-0 GSC), while UWA slips to 4-4 (0-2 GSC).
 
The two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday with a single game at 2 p.m. CST at Charger Park.
 
UAH 13, UWA 2
 
Tyler Harrison was once again terrific in the circle for the Chargers, taking a perfect game into the fourth inning before ultimately giving up just the two runs and three hits while striking out a season-best eight.
 
The junior hurler received more than enough run support from the UAH bats as the team pounded out 14 hits to UWA's two.
 
After a pair of big hits from Kaitlyn Bannister and Abby Roberts lifted the Chargers to a 2-0 lead in the first, UAH then erupted for eight runs in the bottom half of the second as Brianna Sullivan, Savannah Smith, Bannister, Harrison, Roberts and Wascavage all had run-producing hits in the innings.
 
Wascavage's contribution in the big frame was a two-run homer, while Smith had a two-run triple to go along with Harrison and Roberts who both doubled in a run.
 
Harrison added another RBI double in the third, and Wascavage singled in a run in the frame to make it 12-0 before UWA scored twice in the top half of the fourth to make it 12-2.
 
Bridgette Wilson ended the scoring for UAH when she doubled in a run in the fourth to produce the 13-2 final.
 
Bannister, Harrison, Roberts and Wascavage all had two hits in the contest.
 
UAH 12, UWA 3
 
UAH had to climb out of an early hole to pull of the big victory in the day's second game, erasing what was a 3-1 deficit with a three-run second inning that put the Chargers up 4-3.
 
Two of the runs scored on a UWA miscue, and the eventual game-winning run crossed the plate when Kaitlyn Bannister singled in Savannah Smith to put the hosts ahead by one.
 
A scoreless third and top of the fourth ensued before the Chargers put another crooked number on the board in the bottom frame of the fourth.
 
Smith started the inning off with a solo homer – her team-best fourth of the season and also her team-leading 20th RBI of the year – and then Wascavage, Jada Hayes and Haley Thompson all knocked in teammates to put UAH up 9-3.
 
Harrison then ended the contest with a three-run home run in the bottom of the 6th to create the 12-3 final.
 
Wascavage is now hitting .514 on the season after picking up another three hits in the nightcap, with Smith and Bannister both had a pair in the game to help UAH outhit UWA 11-7.