CLEVELAND, Miss. | The No. 13 University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team split its series-opening doubleheader at Delta State on Saturday, winning 3-0 in the opener before falling 6-5 in the nightcap. The Chargers are now 26-10 (19-7 Gulf South Conference), while the Lady Statesmen move to 20-23 (12-17 GSC).
 
Next Time Out
-The rubber match of the series is slated for Sunday. First pitch is at 12 p.m. in the Magnolia State.
 
UAH 3, Delta State 0
Inside the Box Score
-It was a pitcher's duel in the first game of the series as the teams combined for just six hits with three for each side.
-Layton Murphy went the distance in posting the complete game shutout in the circle, striking out four and working around the three hits and five walks.
-Mackenzie Nutt had one of UAH's hits while also driving in a pair.
-Gracie Green's double and Lila Young's base hit gave the Chargers their three in the contest.
-Six different UAH players drew a walk in the contest.
 
Key Plays
-After a scoreless first, a two-out single from Nutt with Green and Young on board gave the Chargers an early 2-0 lead.
-Murphy then would strand a pair of DSU runners in both the second and third before tossing a 1-2-3 fourth to keep the guests in front by a pair, and Alaina Hampton would throw out a would-be base stealer in the bottom of the fifth to continue to hold the hosts at bay.
-An error would give UAH another two-out run in the top of the sixth as Green reached on the DSU miscue, allowing Laura Harbin to score to make it a 3-0 advantage for UAH.
-Delta State would load the bases in the seventh, but a strikeout and a fly out would end the contest and give the Chargers the victory.
 
Noteworthy
-Murphy is now 12-4 and lowers her ERA to 2.43 with her 10th complete game and third shutout of the season.
-Green is third on the team now with six doubles on the season.
 
Delta State 6, UAH 5
Inside the Box Score
-Hits in the nightcap were also level, this time at seven for both teams.
-Nutt accounted for three of UAH's in the contest, and she also scored three times while driving in a run.
-Other hits in the game belonged to Kiara Akles who doubled and had an RBI, Shelby Booker, Kayla Vaught, and Young.
-Grace O'Berry pitched into the seventh inning, giving up six hits and five runs of which three were earned while striking out nine and walking five before giving way to Akles who takes the setback after allowing the winning run.
 
Key Plays
-UAH would go up by a pair in the top of the first after a pair of errors on one play allowed Nutt to score before Akles singled in Booker to make it 2-0.
-Nutt would then drive home Young with a base hit in the second to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead, and that advantage would grow to 4-0 in the fourth when Nutt scored on another error.
-The Lady Statesmen pulled to within one in the bottom half of the fourth as they scored three times to cut UAH's margin to 4-3, and another error in the top of the sixth would give the Chargers a two-run cushion at 5-3.
-After the guests stranded a pair of DSU runners in the bottom of the sixth, a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh would tie the game at 5-5 before a sac fly lifted Delta State to the 6-5 victory.
 
Noteworthy
-Nutt is second on the team in both runs with 29 and RBI with 26.
-The nine strikeouts for O'Berry mark a season high for the freshman.