HUNTSVILLE | The No. 5 University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team topped No. 9 Valdosta State in both games of Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 2-1 and 8-0 to open a three-game Gulf South Conference series. UAH improves to 35-7 (20-2 GSC), while VSU slides to 32-8 (18-5 GSC).
 
The Chargers and Blazers wrap up the three-game series on Sunday at noon at Charger Park.
 
UAH 2, VSU 1
Megan Shurtz dominated the Blazers offense over 7.0 innings with just one run allowed and five strikeouts, as she was backed by a two-run fifth inning for the Chargers to earn the 2-1 victory in the series-opener.
 
Shurtz improves to 10-3 this season with the victory, as she tosses her ninth complete game in 2023.
 
Alexa Douthitt put the Chargers on the board in the pitchers' duel on Saturday with a solo home run to left center for her fifth home run of the season. Jada Henderson also had an RBI single in the two-run fifth to give UAH a decisive 2-0 advantage.
 
Overall, UAH had six base hits in the contest with Lawren Hayes leading the way out of the lead-off spot, going 2-for-2 with one run and one walk.
 
UAH 8, VSU 0 (Six innings)
Another stellar starting pitching performance guided the Chargers to the 8-0 victory to complete the doubleheader sweep, as Katie Bracken twirled 6.0 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts to improve to 13-1 in her freshman season.
 
UAH's offense kickstarted early into the game-two victory with three-run rallies in the first and third innings, as the first was highlighted by a two-run single by Douthitt and the third featured a towering solo home run by Maddie Cartron.
 
Cartron now leads the Chargers with six home runs in 2023.
 
UAH went on to add one run in the fourth, before Sadie Thompson sealed the victory in the sixth with a walk-off RBI single to left center for the 8-0 victory in six innings.
 
The Chargers amassed 16 base hits against the Blazers in game two, led by Douthitt with a 3-for-4 performance with two runs and three RBI. Cartron and Hayes also had three base knocks in the win, while a total of five Chargers had multi-hit performances.