MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The second-seeded Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (51-8) rebounded from their tournament opening loss with a 3-0 win over the sixth-seed Valdosta State Blazers (48-19) on Thursday afternoon at the 2008 NCAA Division II South Regional softball tournament hosted by Barry University at Buccaneer Field.
The Chargers started the bottom of the first inning with a two-out scoring rally to take a 1-0 lead. Beth Lawson reached on the two-out single and then pitcher Caitlin Lee helped her own cause with a triple that plated the go ahead run.
Alabama-Huntsville added a pair of runs in the bottom half of the next inning to extend their lead to 3-0. With one out, Kristina Prater was hit by a Kristen Lindsey pitch to reach first. She later stole second base and advanced to third on an errant throw by VSU catcher Robin Williams.
After being silent in the Chargers’ first tournament game, Amy Harris stepped up to the plate and sent a one-strike pitch singing over the left centerfield wall for a two-run homer. That was all UAH needed as Lee retired 11 consecutive VSU batters heading into the seventh inning.
Lee (17-0) struck out three in the three-hit shutout, but went 3-for-3 with the game-winning RBI and a triple. Harris was 1-for-1 with two RBI. VSU’s Kristin Lindsey (21-10) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and struck out three. Andi Braswell, Robin Williams and Shannon Cleland accounted for the Blazer hits.
Valdosta State’s tournament run came to an end after suffering their second straight loss in the double-elimination tournament. Alabama Huntsville will advance to face the loser between the Barry/Rollins game that will be played at 6:30 pm Thursday night.
Alabama-Huntsville 3, Valdosta State 0 (05/08/2008 at Miami Shores, Fla.)
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Valdosta State...... 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 (48-19)
Alabama-Huntsville.. 120 000 X - 3 5 0 (51-8)
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Pitchers: Valdosta State - Kristen Lindsey. Alabama-Huntsville - Caitlin Lee.
Win-Caitlin Lee(17-0) Loss-Kristen Lindsey(21-10) T-1:31 A-83
HR UAH - Amy Harris (13).
Game: GAME5
