GULF SHORES, Ala. | The 18th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team split on the opening day of the Gulf Coast Invitational on Saturday, falling 4-0 to No. 1 North Georgia before turning around to beat Simon Fraser 20-10 in six innings. UAH moves to 4-2 on the year.
 
Play at the GCI will continue on Saturday for UAH as the Chargers take on McKendree at 2:30 p.m. followed by Spring Hill at 4:45 p.m.
 
North Georgia 4, UAH 0
 
In the day's first game, North Georgia used a run in the second and a three-run homer in the sixth to push past the Chargers in a rematch of last weekend's contest that UAH won.
 
Picking up the loss in the circle for UAH was Tyler Harrison who scattered six hits while striking out six in the setback.
 
UNG outhit the Chargers 6-5, and UAH had two players who reached base safely twice as both Brianna Sullivan and Harrison had a hit and a walk in the contest.
 
The Chargers threatened in the top of the first and third innings, placing a runner at third in both frames, but were unable to score.
 
UAH 20, Simon Fraser 10
 
UAH overcame 10 errors in the second game of the day, using a 10-run sixth inning to end the game early with the 20-10 final.
 
Simon Fraser jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but UAH responded with four runs in the bottom half of the first, and after SFU went ahead 7-2 in the second, the Chargers scored four more times to go in front 8-7.
 
The Canadian squad tied the game at 8-8 in the top frame of the third, but UAH scored in the bottom half, again in the fourth, and then exploded for the 10 runs in the sixth.
 
Kaitlyn Bannister had the biggest hit of the game, belting a grand slam down the line in left to end the contest, and the third baseman finished with four hits while driving in six runs and scoring five times.
 
Also having a strong day at the plate in the contest was Abby Roberts who was 3-for-3 with five RBI and a run scored, and Harrison also picked up a pair of hits in the contest.
 
Savannah Smith and pinch-hitter Lexi Beach both drove in a pair of runs.

Earning the win in the circle was Emily Glover who moves to 1-1 on the season.