HUNTSVILLE | The No. 25 University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team split its doubleheader with visiting Mississippi College on Saturday, bouncing back from a 6-0 loss in the opener with a 4-0 win in the nightcap at Charger Park. The Chargers move to 34-13 (18-11 Gulf South Conference), while MC is now 29-16 (16-13 GSC).
 
With the victory, UAH clinched its spot in the upcoming 2016 Gulf South Conference Championships, ensuring the program's run of reaching the tournament in each year of its existence – this is its 21st year – will remain intact.
 
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday at 1 p.m., and UAH will honor its senior class with a special ceremony on the field at 12:40 p.m.
 
Mississippi College 6, UAH 0
 
Carlie Sargent threw a perfect game in the day's first contest for the Lady Choctaws, retiring UAH's 21 batter in order while striking out five.
 
Giving the guests an early lead, Kristen Qualls homered in the first inning with her solo shot making it a 1-0 game, and the contest would remain that way through the sixth inning before Qualls added another home run as part of a five-run inning.
 
Tyler Harrison took the decision for UAH in the circle, working around eight hits while striking out four and walking just one in 5.2 innings of work before giving way to Taylor Doriety who earned the last four outs for the Chargers.
 
UAH 4, Mississippi College 0
 
Quickly dispensing of any carry over from the first game and with two runners on in the bottom half of the first inning after Brianna Sullivan had reached on an error and Savanah Smith had drawn a walk, Kaitlyn Bannister blasted her 13th home run of the season to give the hosts a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Bannister – who entered the weekend ranked second in Division II in driving in runs – now has 60 RBI on the season.
 
Adding onto her team's advantage, Sullivan made it a 4-0 game in the second when the speedy senior legged out an infield single with two outs, allowing Jada Hayes to score after she walked and stole both second and third.
 
Kimberly Jack and the UAH defense then did the rest of the work as the pitcher hurled her second shutout and sixth complete game of the season, scattering four hits, striking out nine and walking none.
 
The senior induced 11 groundballs, nine of which were hit to Bannister at third who established a season-high with nine assists.
 
UAH finished the game outhitting MC 6-4 with both Bannister and Hayes recording a pair.