HUNTSVILLE | The No. 20 University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team won in dramatic fashion on Sunday, with Ashley Cornell's three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh proving to be the ultimate difference in an 8-5 victory for the Chargers. UAH improves to 11-5 overall and starts Gulf South Conference play at 1-0, while the Hawks fall to 9-5 (2-2 GSC).
 
Turning Point
-After seeing a lead turn into a deficit in the top of the seventh inning, Alaina Hampton singled in the tying run in the bottom frame, and after Kiara Akles also singled, Cornell ended the game by depositing a 1-1 pitch over the fence in center to win the game for the Chargers.
 
Inside the Box Score
-The Chargers established an 11-10 advantage in hits in the contest, with Amber Hammonds leading the way with three, while Reagan Malone and Cornell both had a pair.
-Both Malone and Cornell homered in the game in addition to both scoring a team-high twice, while Shelby Booker had a double to give UAH three hits for extra bases.
-Cornell's three RBI on the home run led the hosts in the contest, while Malone knocked in a pair on her long fly.
-The Chargers stole bases nearly at will in the game, totaling eight in the contest including a pair from both Malone and Hampton.
-Sydnee Uhlman earned the victory in the circle, tossing 1.2 innings of relief work for starter Layton Murphy who went 5.1 innings, scattering six hits and allowing three runs while striking out one.
 
Key Plays
-The Hawks struck first, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first, but the Chargers immediately cut the lead in half when Hammonds singled in Malone in the bottom frame to make it 2-1.
-After a scoreless second for both teams, the visitors threatened to tack onto their lead, but Murphy would wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam, allowing the Chargers to tie the contest at 2-2 when Mackenzie Nutt singled in Booker.
-A 1-2-3 inning followed for Murphy, and the Chargers then took the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Cornell singled up the middle to start the frame and scored later in the inning when Malone homered to put UAH up 4-2.
-The fifth and sixth were both scoreless innings before the Hawks surged back in front with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, but Shorter could have had more had Uhlman not stranded a trio of runners on base.
-After a pop-out started the UAH half of the seventh, Hammonds would be hit by a pitch, and after she stole second, she would score on Hampton's hard hit up the middle.
-Hampton would also swipe a bag, allowing her to move to third after the base hit from Akles before Cornell sparked a wild celebration at the plate by ending the game with the three-run jack.
 
Noteworthy
-Malone and Cornell become the third and fourth Chargers to have multiple home runs on the year as both notched their second of the season.
-The two are also tied for third on the team with Hampton with 11 RBI on the year.
-Uhlman moves to a perfect 4-0 on the season.
 
Next Time Out
-The Chargers will wrap up the series with Shorter on Monday when the two teams are slated to play a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Charger Park.