OXFORD, Ala. | The UAH softball team concluded its run at the Gulf South Conference Championship on Friday at Choccolocco Park, defeating Mississippi College 5-3 before falling 6-5 to West Alabama in the final game of the tournament for the Chargers. UAH finished the tournament with a 36-22 overall record.
Game One: UAH 5, MIssissippi College 3
The Chargers struck first in the opening inning when Mia Brown doubled to left center to score Brittany Slaten and give UAH a 1-0 lead. Mississippi College answered in the bottom half of the inning, but UAH regained control with a three-run second inning. Alexa Douthitt delivered the key hit in the frame with a three-RBI double to left field, scoring Slaten, Jill Cockrell and Baylee Darby to put the Chargers ahead 4-1.
Mississippi College added a run in the second inning before Keli Madden extended the lead in the third with a solo home run to left field to make it 5-2.
The Choctaws plated one run in the sixth inning, but Bracken closed out the complete-game victory to secure the win.
Slaten led the offense with a 3-for-5 performance and two runs scored, while Douthitt drove in three runs. Brown added an RBI double, and Madden finished with a solo home run.
Bracken earned the win after allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five over seven innings.
Game Two: West Alabama 6, UAH 5
UAH saw its tournament run come to an end in heartbreaking fashion in the nightcap as West Alabama rallied late for a 6-5 victory.
West Alabama opened the scoring in the first inning before Hannah Temple tied the game in the second with an RBI double that scored Alyssa Butts.
The Chargers took a 2-1 lead in the third inning when Douthitt singled to left field to score Slaten. After West Alabama tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, UAH reclaimed the lead in the fourth as Jill Cockrell singled up the middle to score Kylie Ballentine and make it 3-2.
UAH appeared in control in the sixth inning when Cockrell delivered a two-RBI triple to right center, scoring Baylee Darby and Temple to extend the lead to 5-2. West Alabama answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run to seal the victory.
Cockrell led the Chargers offensively with three RBIs on a 2-for-4 performance, while Temple and Douthitt each added an RBI. Mia Brown also recorded a triple in the contest.
Megan Shurtz took the loss after striking out nine batters over 5.2 innings while allowing six runs on 10 hits.
UAH await their postseason fate in the final South Region polls.
