NCAA DIVISION II SOFTBALL SELECTION SHOW (MONDAY, MAY 7, 10:00 a.m.)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Valdosta State softball's pursuit of a Gulf South Conference title came up short, as the Blazers fell 4-3 in an extra-inning loss to the hosting Alabama-Huntsville Chargers on Sunday afternoon at Charger Park in Huntsville, Ala.
 
Valdosta State drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning when a UAH communication error in the outfield allowed a routine Hayley Cruthers fly ball to drop for a 2-run single. Both Caylee Hancock and Chelsea Canara scored on the play, which gave the Blazers an early 2-0 advantage.
 
Freshman Kathryn Carter held the Chargers at bay for four straight innings, but a leadoff walk in the fifth to Tyler Harrison provided a spark for UAH. On the ensuing at bat, Erin Jewell gave the Chargers their second hit of the game when she slugged a gapper to left center field. Harrison scored on a close play at the plate, and Brooke Miller tied the game with a single just two batters later.
 
Alabama-Huntsville took their first lead of the game in the top half of the seventh when another leadoff walk by Carter set the stage for Jewell to score on a double by Emily Glover. Glover's well-hit grounder escaped the infield and rolled to the right center field wall to give UAH a 3-2 lead.
 
In the bottom of the final inning of regulation, Lacey Crandall revived the Blazers with a two-out double, before moving up on a Haley Fowler pinch hit single and scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3. The Chargers regained momentum, however, with a bases loaded single by Kaitlyn Bannister in the top of the eighth.
 
Facing a one-run deficit, Canara nearly tied the game with a leadoff double off of the top of the fence in left center, but the senior was left stranded at second base to end the game.
 
Carter suffered the loss and fell to 18-4 on the season, while Harrison picked up the win for the Chargers to improve to 20-7.

Crandall and Tana McDaniel teamed up for four hits in the contest to earn a spot on the Gulf South Conference All-Tournament Team.
 
Valdosta State is likely to continue their season in NCAA South Regional action next weekend, but the team will have to wait until Monday to find out when and where they will play next. The Blazers' regional placement will be announced at 10:00 a.m. on Monday's NCAA selection show.