HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama Huntsville Chargers softball softball team secured a Gulf South Conference series victory over Delta State Statesmen softball at Charger Park this weekend, taking two of three games. UAH opened the series with a 14-6 win and followed with a 13-4 victory before Delta State claimed the finale, 5-3.
UAH moves to 24-14 overall and 10-8 in GSC play, while Delta State stands at 12-22 overall and 5-13 in conference play.
Game One: UAH 14, Delta State 6
Delta State struck early with three runs in the top of the first, but UAH answered immediately. Mia Brown and Kylie Ballentine each delivered RBI doubles before the Chargers tied the game at 3-3. UAH took control in the second inning, scoring four runs highlighted by a two-run home run from Brittany Slaten. RBI hits from Brown and Hannah Temple extended the lead to 7-3.
The Chargers continued to add on throughout the game. An RBI single from Gracie Ashley in the fourth and a solo home run from Alexa Douthitt in the fifth pushed the advantage further. UAH sealed the win with a four-run sixth inning, with contributions from Douthitt, Brown, Temple, and Kylee Smith.
Megan Shurtz earned the win after pitching a complete game, allowing six runs on 11 hits while striking out eight.
Offensively, Douthitt led the way with three hits and two RBIs, Slaten added a home run and three RBIs, and Brown finished with two hits and three RBIs.
Game Two: UAH 13, Delta State 4 (5 innings)
UAH's offense stayed hot in game two, erupting for four runs in the first inning. Brown delivered a two-RBI single, and Temple followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0. The Chargers broke the game open in the second inning with six runs. Jill Cockrell launched a two-run home run, while Douthitt, Ballentine, and Temple each added RBI hits to extend the lead to 10-1.
UAH continued its offensive surge in the third inning when Ballentine hit a two-run home run to make it 12-1. The Chargers added another run in the fourth on a wild pitch to cap the scoring.
Katie Bracken earned the win in the circle, tossing five innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out eight.
At the plate, Cockrell paced the Chargers with three hits, including a home run, and two RBIs. Ballentine added a home run and three RBIs, while Temple recorded two hits and three RBIs.
Game Three: Delta State 5, UAH 3
The series finale remained scoreless through four innings before Delta State broke through in the fifth inning with a two-run home run from Carly Dunigan. The Lady Statesmen added three more runs in the sixth inning, including a two-RBI single from Dunigan, to take a 5-0 lead.
UAH mounted a late rally in the seventh inning. Douthitt delivered a two-RBI single, and McKamey Bratcher followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-3, but the comeback fell short.
Douthitt led UAH with two RBIs, while Cockrell added a hit and scored a run. Bratcher provided a key pinch-hit RBI in the final inning.
UAH will look to carry its strong offensive performances into their next matchup against Columbus State. The Chargers will face the Cougars in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 1, in Birmingham, Alabama, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
