2018 CHARGER CHILLOUT
HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball program will host the Charger Chillout this week at the Huntsville Sportsplex, bringing the 20-team event back for the first time since 2015 after a two-year hiatus.
 
The original schedule for the 2018 edition of the event has undergone significant changes due to an unfavorable weather forecast for the weekend, and the tournament has been condensed into a two-day affair that will take place on Thursday and Friday.
 
UAH will now play Kentucky Wesleyan at 12 p.m. on Thursday before taking on Southern Indiana immediately following at 2 p.m., and then on Friday the Chargers will face Ohio Dominican at 12 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. contest against Georgia Southwestern at 2 p.m.
 
Among the 20 teams that will be in Huntsville are six other Gulf South Conference schools in Christian Brothers, Delta State, Lee, Mississippi College, North Alabama, and Shorter.
 
The Chargers enter the play this week at 5-1 after posting a strong opening weekend at the Gulf Coast Invitational that saw UAH defeat four NCAA South Region opponents and the 25th-ranked team in the country.
 
Having a strong college debut in the circle down in Gulf Shores for UAH was Layton Murphy who went 4-1 on the weekend with three complete games and a 1.50 ERA, while Amber Hammonds had an immediate impact in her debut in the Blue and White as she drove in a team-best nine runs while matching Kiara Akles with a team-high seven hits.
 
In the all-time series with each of their opponents this week, the Chargers have strong marks. Against both Kentucky Wesleyan and Georgia Southwestern, UAH is 7-0, while the Chargers are 6-1 against Southern Indiana. UAH has met Ohio Dominican just twice and has won both of those meetings.
 
Admission to the Chillout will cost $10 per day, while all UAH softball season passes and the UAH all-sport pass will be honored at the gate.