Tuskegee Defeats UAH in Opener of Regional

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama | The University of Alabama in Huntsville softball team fell in the opening game on the NCAA South 1 Regional on Friday afternoon as the top-seeded Chargers dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 8 seed Tuskegee. UAH slips to 43-10 with the setback, while the Golden Tigers improve to 30-14.

UAH will meet North Alabama in an elimination game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with the winner of that contest playing at 6 p.m. against the loser of Rollins and Tuskegee.

The Golden Tigers jumped in front in the second inning, crossing the plate five times with two outs in the frame. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded plated the first run, leadoff batter Cari Driver singled to score a run, and Chante Warner hit a bases-clearing double right on the leftfield line to score three more and give Tuskegee a 5-0 lead.

After a pair of scoreless innings, Tuskegee would tack on another pair of runs in the fifth inning to grab a 7-0 advantage.

The Chargers would then cut into the large deficit with a pair of runs in the sixth as Brianna Sullivan singled in Kaitlyn Bannister and Emily Glover scored on the same play thanks to a Tuskegee error, and UAH would pull closer in the seventh inning.

Bannister made it a 7-4 game when she homered with two outs, scoring Tyler Harrison who had singled in the previous at-bat, and Glover would score UAH's fifth run of the game after doubling, coming home when Mallory McNeal singled into center.

Unfortunately, the Chargers could pull no closer as Latifah Kelly (17-5) earned the complete-game victory. She gave up 11 hits and the five runs, striking out two and walking three.

Glover (14-4) picked up the loss for the Chargers as she was charged with the first four runs.

Helping UAH collect its 11 hits, both Macie Couey and Bannister recorded three hits in the game. Denavia Harrison matched that performance on the other side as she also collected three hits to assist Tuskegee in finishing the day with 10.

The Golden Tigers will face Rollins at noon with a berth to the championship on the line.

Box Score

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS