FLORENCE, Ala. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team opened up play at the 2016 Gulf South Conference Championships on Thursday, falling 7-2 to Delta State in its opener. UAH slips to 38-14 on the year, while Delta improves to 34-18.
 
The Chargers will now play in an elimination game on Friday at 12:30 p.m. against the loser of second-seeded Valdosta State and No. 3 seed West Florida.
 
The start of Thursday's game was delayed nearly 90 minutes after West Florida and Shorter played a marathon 13-inning game that UWF won in the contest prior.
 
Delta State jumped in front early, putting a five-spot on the board in the first inning including four runs that came with two outs in the inning, and though DSU would threaten again in the second and third, the Chargers would force them to leave the bases loaded in both innings.
 
In the bottom half of the third, UAH – after stranding a pair of runners in each of its first two innings, also – would have two runners on with two outs after Kaitlyn Bannister walked earlier in the inning and Emily Glover reached on a fielder's choice, and Taylor Wascavage pulled through with a double that plated both to cut the Lady Statesmen advantage to 5-2.
 
Wascavage added another double later in the game to have two of UAH's eight hits while moving her season double total to 12 while also now owning 36 RBI on the season, and her multi-hit performance was matched by Abby Roberts who also recorded a pair for the Chargers..
 
After the UAH scoring inning, Delta State would quickly get the runs back with two in the top of the fourth to go up 7-2 which would prove to be the eventual final.
 
For the contest, DSU outhit the Chargers 16-8 with Carah Nunez and Abi Gibson both having three-hit days with Nunez pacing the Lady Statesmen by driving in four of the team's runs.
 
Taylor Tucker went the distance for Delta State in the circle and picked up the win, while Kimberly Jack took the loss for the Chargers in moving to 8-3 on the season.
 
Throwing the final three frames for UAH was Taylor Doriety, and the junior struck out two and gave up just two hits in those three innings.