HUNTSVILLE | The 16th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team captured its ninth series win in 10 tries, secured the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament, and split with host Montevallo on Sunday, falling 5-3 before using a big comeback to win 12-7 in the nightcap. UAH ends the regular season at 37-13 (21-8 GSC), while UM is finished at 24-27 (12-18 GSC).
 
Next Time Out
-The second-seeded Chargers will open up postseason play on Thursday, taking on No. 7 seed Union at West Florida with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
 
Montevallo 5, UAH 3
Game Changer
-After the Chargers had tied the game at 3-3 in the top half of the inning, Montevallo had a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that would prove to be the difference in the contest.
 
Inside the Box Score
-The Falcons outhit UAH by a 5-4 margin in the contest.
-Amber Hammonds had a double and drove in a pair of runs, while Mackenzie Nutt had an RBI on a double of her own.
-Taylor Wascavage and Shannon Long were responsible for UAH's other two hits.
-Torrie Garner was charged with the loss in the circle for UAH as she, Layton Murphy, and Sydnee Uhlman combined to limit the hosts to just the five hits.
 
Key Plays
-The Falcons got on the board in the first with a pair before a solo homer in the third made it a 3-0 deficit for the Chargers.
-The score remained that way until the fifth when Nut doubled in Wascavage and Hammonds drove in both Nutt and Long to tie it at 3-3.
-After the go-ahead home run in the bottom half of the fifth, UAH would be retired in order in the sixth and put a runner in scoring position in the seventh before stranding her there.
 
Noteworthy
-Hammonds becomes the fourth Charger to reach double digits in doubles as she is fourth on the team with 10.
 
UAH 12, Montevallo 7
Game Changer
-A five-run fifth for the Chargers that was spurned on by back-to-back homers from Long and Kiara Akles to start the rally pushed UAH out of a four-run deficit and into the lead for good.
 
Inside the Box Score
-UAH's bats woke up for 13 hits in the game with the Falcons racking up 10.
-Shelby Booker had another three-hit showing while driving in a pair, while both Hammonds and Long had two hits and two RBI.
-Reagan Malone picked up a pair of hits including a double, a walk, and two runs.
-Akles earned the win in the circle for the Chargers, going five innings and giving up six hits and three runs of which none were earned while striking out a pair.
 
Key Plays
-The scoring for the Chargers started in the first when the guests claimed an early 3-0 lead when Nutt drew a bases-loaded walk before Long and Ashley Cornell were both hit by a pitch with the bags still juiced.
-The Falcons then did all of their offensive damage in one inning, scoring seven times in the third to jump out in front 7-3.
-With one out in the fifth, Long and Akles went back-to-back with solo shots to pull the Chargers within a pair, and later in the frame, Booker would single in a pair of runs to tie the contest at 7-7 before Hammonds put UAH in front again with an RBI single to left.
-UAH would add insurance in the seventh when Hammonds singled in another run, Hayes notched a sac fly, and Nutt singled up the middle to score two and put the Chargers up 12-7.
-The Falcons threatened in the home half of the seventh, but Akles would strand a pair of runners on to seal the contest.
 
Noteworthy
-This is the eighth time that Booker has had at least three hits in a game, and she is now batting .456 on the year.
-Long's homer is her 10th of the year, while Akles is second on the team by belting her ninth.
-Hayes has now driven in 51 on the year thanks to her team-leading fourth sacrifice fly.
-The victory moves Akles to 11-1 in the circle and lowers her ERA to 3.21.