HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team picked up a huge doubleheader sweep on Friday night, winning 5-2 and 4-0 over Shorter to take over sole possession of second place in the Gulf South Conference. The Chargers improve to 22-9 (12-5 GSC) on the season, while Shorter slips to 21-14 (10-7 GSC).
 
Next Time Out
-The Chargers will look to complete its second straight GSC series sweep on Saturday when the two teams meet at a new start time off 11 a.m. The series finale was moved up in an effort to beat the storms that are forecast to impact the Tennessee Valley on Saturday afternoon.
 
UAH 5, Shorter 2
 
Game Changer
-Tyler Harrison was once again terrific in the circle for the Chargers as she went the distance, scattering four hits and giving up two runs – only one of which was earned – while walking one and striking out another nine batters.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Helping the Chargers outhit the Hawks by a 7-4 margin, both Kaitlyn Bannister and Taylor Wascavage had a pair of hits in the game with Bannister driving in a pair of runs and Wascavage picking up an RBI on a solo homer in the second.
-Reagan Malone, Ashley Cornell, and Harrison had the other hits for the Chargers, while Harrison and Erin Jewell also drove in a run apiece.
-The Chargers also drew a walk, did not strike out in the contest, and left only three on base.
 
Key Plays
-The scoring started for the Chargers in the bottom of the first when with two outs Bannister singled through the left side, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an infield hit by Harrison to put the Chargers up 1-0.
-The guests, however, had an answer and scored twice in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead, but it would be a brief advantage as Wascavage got all of a 1-0 pitch, depositing it well past the fence down the line in left.
-After a scoreless third for the Hawks, UAH then sent seven batters to the plate in the home half with three runs scoring – a pair on a double from Bannister and another on a sac fly off the bat of Jewell.
-With the score then 5-2 in favor of the Chargers, the Hawks would start the fourth with back-to-back singles, but Harrison then retired the next 12 Shorter batters in order to seal the victory for the hosts.
 
Noteworthy
-Bannister's double is her team-best 11th of the season.
-Wascavage is now tied for second on the team in home runs as both she and Brooke Miller have three on the year.
-With an additional one added in the nightcap, Harrison now owns 97 strikeouts on the season.
 
UAH 4, Shorter 0
 
Game Changer
-With her team ahead just 2-0 and looking for important insurance, Kailtyn Bannister moved to the brink of more history as she belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give her 238 career RBI – just one away from tying the GSC record of 239.
 
Inside the Box Score
-Emily Glover picked up her 11th win of the season in the circle as she went 5.1 innings while scattering five hits and striking out one before giving way to Harrison who tossed the final 1.2 innings, working around a pair of hits and striking out another in earning her second save in as many weeks.
-Shorter finished the game with seven hits to UAH's five, with each of the Charger hits coming from different players – Malone, Bannister, Harrison, Jewell, and Sarah Jordan.
-Bannister drove in the pair of runs on the home run, while Jordan also had an RBI in the game.
 
Key Plays
-UAH earned its first run of the game without the benefit of a hit as Miller walked in the third, moved to second on a sacrifice by Jordan, and then stole third before scurrying home on an errant throw by the Shorter catcher.
-The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Chargers until the home team earned its first hits of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Jewell singled up the middle and stole second to be able to score on Jordan's base hit with two outs later in the frame.
-After a scoreless top of the sixth for the Hawks, Malone led off the UAH half with a single, and she would score when Bannister crushed an 0-1 offering down the left field line to create the eventual 4-0 final.
 
Noteworthy
-Bannister's home run is her eighth of the season, and she now owns a team-best 38 RBI to go along with her stunning .530 batting average.
-In addition to picking up her second save of the season, Harrison's ERA drops to 1.17 with Glover's moving to 1.71 as the team features an overall ERA of just 1.72.
-The Chargers have belted 23 home runs on the season, while UAH pitching has given up just five after surrendering 33 last season.