Lawson earned first team recogntion on both squads. She led the team in offense with a .366 batting average. The senior designated player had 12 home runs 10 doubles and 42 RBI. 

Duke

Hawkins

Photo by Chuck Edgeworth

It has only happened three times in the history of the UAH softball. Once in 1998 and again in 2000. Then on Monday in the finals of the South Region Tournament, lightning struck again. Arkansas-Monticello pitcher Kayla Jackson completely shut the UAH offense down, tossing a no-hitter that ended the Chargers season. The final score, No. 23 UAM 1, No. 12 UAH 0.

The win completed a sweep of the stunned Chargers on Monday, who came into the day needing only one win to advance to the Super Regionals. However, after Jackson allowed three hits in two games, it's the Cotton Blossoms that will be making the trip to Valdosta to take on the Blazers for a chance to earn a spot in the Softball World Series. UAM won the first game 6-3 to force the deciding game.

Jackson was stellar striking out six in the opener and allowing only one earned run. In the final game, she only had two strikeouts, but the only baserunners came on a walk and a pair of errors.

UAH senior pitcher Whitney Hawkins (20-5) was also solid, allowing only four hits in the game. She also had four strikeouts in her final collegiate appearance.

In the final game, UAM shortstop Jennifer Hickman doubled with one out. Designated player Faith Lund followed with a single, then Hickman scored on a ground-out. That would be all that Jackson would need as she silenced the Charger lineup.

Things seemed to be going the home team's way in the first game when UAH scored three runs in the first inning. Outfielder Sam Deep reached on an infield single to lead off the inning. She stole second then scored on a double by Kelli Long. Long went to third on a wild pitch. After a flyout to shallow center, Long scored when centerfielder Bethany Falcon's throw to the plate was wild, giving UAH a 2-0 lead. The Chargers scored their third run on a passed ball. The Chargers had only one more baserunner the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, UAM answered with six runs in the third inning off of freshman Whitney Gilbert (19-5) and never looked back. Everything went wrong in the inning for the Chargers. There was a costly error, two runs scored on bases loaded walked and four hits. Gilbert settled down the rest of the way and only allowed two more hits but the damage was done, and so was the Charger offense.

Despite the disappointing finish, the Chargers had another successful season, closing out with a 41-12 record and a Gulf South Conference East Division regular season title. The Chargers bid farewell to a fantastic group of seniors, Beth Lawson, Erin Duke, Whitney Hawkins, Whitney Schrimsher and Michele Ingram.

After escaping Saturday which had a 60% chance of rain without a drop, the wet stuff moved in overnight on Saturday and continued through the morning off and on. After delaying the start until 2:45, game officials thought they had an openin. Pre-game activities got underway, including the starting lineups. However, before the national anthem could be played it began to rain again.

The winner of the finals will advance to the Super Regionals next weekend (May 21-22) in Valdosta, Ga. against Valdosta State. The Blazers swept a pair from Palm Beach Atlantic on Sunday to earn the Super Regional berth. In order to earn a trip to southeast Georgia, Arkansas-Monticello will have to do as Valdosta State did and sweep two from the Chargers.

The No. 2 seeded UAH Chargers rallied late to beat Arkansas-Monticello and earn a spot in the South Region finals. The 12th-ranked Chargers improved to 41-10, while No. 23 UAM fell to 51-11. The Cotton Blossoms battled their way through the losers bracket to earn a rematch with the Chargers in the Regional final on Sunday afternoon.

At stake, a spot in the Super Regionals next weekend. A win by UAH, coupled with a loss by Valdosta State, who is hosting the other half of the South Region tournament, will bring the Super Regional back to Huntsville for the second year in a row. However, if both VSU and UAH win out, the Super Regional will be played in Valdosta since the Blazers are the top seed in the Region. VSU will have to win twice against Palm Beach Atlantic on Sunday afternoon. Palm Beach Atlantic edged the Blazers 3-1 on Saturday.

UAM used a two-out rally in the second inning to get on the board first. After the first two batters were retired quickly, Jennifer Hickman, Faith Lund and Randa Perry reached on consecutive singles. Perry's base-hit to left field sent Hickman home with the first run of the day.

The lead didn't last long for the Cotton Blossoms as UAH pitcher Whitney Hawkins hit a solo homer in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 1-1.

In the sixth inning, UAM struck again with two outs. Hickman singled and rightfielder Sarah Hayslip raced home with the go-ahead run from second base, giving UAM a 2-1 lead.

Once again the UAM's lead was short-lived as UAH posted three runs in the bottom of the inning. First baseman Beth Lawson gave the Chargers the lead with a two-run double. Whitney Schrimsher added an RBI single to gave UAH a 4-2 lead.

Hawkins and the UAH defense closed the door in the seventh to preserve the win and propel UAH into the finals.

Hawkins (20-4) scattered nine hits and allowed two runs. She also had seven strikeouts.

Kayla Jackson (28-6) took the loss for the Cotton Blossoms. She pitched six innings, allowed four runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked three.