HUNTSVILLE | The 17th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team closed out the regular season home slate in fine fashion on Saturday, defeating visiting Union 8-0 in six innings on the day that the team celebrated its seven seniors. UAH improves to 36-14 (21-9 Gulf South Conference), while UU slips to 23-27 (7-23 GSC).
 
Game Changer
-One of those seniors Emily Glover was masterful in the circle, giving up just one hit while striking out six in 5.2 innings before giving way to fellow senior Taylor Doriety who recorded the last out as the pair combined for the shutout.
 
Inside the Box Score
-The Chargers pounded out 11 hits in the game – including six for extra bases – and Kaitlyn Bannister in her final regular season home contest led the way by going 3-for-4 with a home run and a pair of runs scored.
-Both Erin Jewell and Glover recorded a pair of hits in the contest with Glover's both being doubles, and Jewell and Tyler Harrison picked up the other two of UAH's four two-baggers.
-Brooke Miller had the biggest swing of the bat in the game, belting a three-run homer in the first inning.
-UAH drew six walks in the contest.
 
Key Plays
-After Glover retired the side in order to start the contest, Ashley Cornell and Bannister led off the UAH half of the first with back-to-back singles before both scored two batters later when Jewell doubled down the line in left to make it a 2-0 lead.
-Taylor Wascavage was then hit by a pitch, putting two on for Miller who took a 3-2 pitch and hit down the left field line for a three-run bomb, and the Chargers would go up 6-0 in the inning when Glover doubled in Reagan Malone as UAH ended up sending 10 batters to the plate.
-Union's one hit came in the second inning, and Glover would then retire 12 in a row before giving way to Doriety who induced a ground out for the last out in the top half of the sixth.
-Should Saturday's game end up being the final one at home for Bannister, the Albertville, Alabama, native ended on a high note as she belted the first pitch she saw in the home half of the sixth over the wall in left to put the Chargers ahead 7-0.
-Jewell and Wascavage then singled before Miller drew a walk to load the bases for Doriety's place in the line-up, and the senior then worked a seven-pitch at-bat that ultimately ended with her earning an RBI on a free pass, ending the game at 8-0.
 
Noteworthy
-The plate appearance is Doriety's second of her career, and the RBI for the pitcher is her first.
-Bannister now has 16 home runs on the season, and she has driven in 55 runs.
-Jewell now has hits in seven of the team's past eight games, and her average is at .301 which is the highest mark for her since the season's second day.
-Glover is now 15-5 on the year in the circle with 123 strikeouts to just 28 walks.
 
Next Time Out
-The Chargers will close out the regular season next weekend in Livingston with a three-game set at West Alabama. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a noon start.