MONTEVALLO | The 17th-ranked University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team won the rubber match with host Montevallo on Sunday, defeating the Falcons by an 8-6 score. The Chargers improve to 7-2 (2-1 Gulf South Conference), while UM falls to 1-6 (1-2 GSC).
 
Game Changer
-After UAH tied it up at 3-3 earlier in the inning, a Mackenzie Nutt two-run jack put the Chargers ahead and keyed what would prove to be a difference-making, five-run fifth inning.
 
Inside the Box Score
-The two teams combined for 24 hits with 14 belonging to Montevallo and 10 to the Chargers.
-Nutt finished the contest going 3-for-5 with three RBI.
-The top four spots in the lineup contributed eight of UAH's hits as leadoff hitter Shelby Booker had a pair as did Kiara Akles in the three hole, and Akles matched Nutt with three RBI.
-That is not to say that the lower third of the order did not also get on base as the 7-8-9 spots drew five of UAH's six walks in the game including a pair from Laura Harbin in the seven spot.
-Layton Murphy earned the win in the circle for UAH, and Grace O'Berry pitched a scoreless seventh in relief of Gracie Deaton to earn the save.
 
Key Plays
-UAH started the scoring right away as Akles had a sac fly and Nutt had an RBI single in the top of the first to give the guests a 2-0 lead, but the Falcons quickly got one of the runs back in the home half to cut the deficit to 2-1.
-Montevallo would tie the contest in the second and then went ahead in the bottom half of the fourth, but its 3-2 lead would be short-lived.
-All of the scoring for UAH in the big fifth came with two outs as a groundout from Akles proved productive as the tying run crossed the plate, and Nutt then homered to left to make it 5-3.
-UAH's other two runs in the inning would come on bases-loaded walks as both Eve Mallard and Lila Young used a patient approach to produce a 7-3 advantage.
-The Falcons would get three runs in the bottom of the sixth before leaving the bases full, but the visitors got an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Akles singled into right to plate Reagan Malone.
-O'Berry then worked around a one-out single to seal the game for UAH. 
 
Noteworthy
-Nutt's first homer of the season helps her feature a team-best 16 RBI, and she is also leading the team with an .808 slugging percentage.
-Akles moves into a tie for second on the team with 12 RBI.
-Of those with at least 2.5 plate appearances per game, five different Chargers are batting better than .400 to help the team hit .427 overall on the year.
-Murphy improves to 3-1 on the season, while O'Berry earns her first career save in the Blue and White.
-Dating back to the 2019 season, the Chargers have won 13 of their last 15 conference series.
 
Next Time Out
-UAH will be off until Saturday, Feb. 27, when the team welcomes West Florida to town for a three-game set. The series-opening doubleheader is slated for a noon start.