PENSACOLA, Fla. | The UAH softball team earned a 5-4 extra-inning victory over West Florida on Friday afternoon in the NCAA South Regional 2 at the UWF Softball Complex.
West Florida struck first in the opening inning with an RBI double, but the Chargers answered in the third inning to take control of the contest. Jill Cockrell scored on a passed ball to tie the game before Kylie Ballentine launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring Mia Brown and Alexa Douthitt to give UAH a 4-1 advantage.
The Argonauts battled back in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on a pair of RBI hits to even the score at 4-4 and eventually force extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Keli Madden delivered the game-winning moment for the Chargers with a solo home run to right field, lifting UAH to the walk-off victory.
Ballentine led the Chargers offensively, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Cockrell also reached base three times with a triple and two walks, while Douthitt and Gracie Ashley each added doubles.
In the circle, Katie Bracken (14-5) earned the complete-game victory after tossing all 8.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out eight batters.
UAH will return to action Thursday, May 21, in the NCAA South Super Regional against No. 1 seed Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Fla. The best-of-three series will determine a berth in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Finals.
