Photo Courtesy of Don Peterson Photos

Salem, Va. - The Chargers were just one win away. But, there would be no celebration, only heartbreak as UAH came up short of a national championship dream, falling to senior heavy Lock Haven University 8-0 in the Division II National Championship on Monday.

With the win, Lock Haven captured their second national title in four years, while the Chargers finished the season with a record of 54-6.

The Chargers managed just one hit off of Lock Haven All-American Kristin Erb. Meanwhile, the UAH pitching staff, led by starter Whitney Hawkins (Athens), finally gave way. Lock Haven roughed up the Chargers for 10 hits in the game.

Hawkins (21-1) suffered her only loss of the season. She worked five innings, allowed four runs on seven hits.

Lock Haven came out swinging early, getting a lead-off infield single from third-baseman Sarah Norris. With the hit, Norris set a new World Series record with 12. Norris was sacrificed to second and went to third on a ground out. However, she was left stranded when catcher Amanda Roosa rolled out to second to end the inning.

The Lady Eagles threatened again in the second inning as right fielder Erica Eisenbise led off with another infield single. Lock Haven would have runners on first and second base, but once again Hawkins pitched out of the jam.

While Lock Haven was pecking away and getting baserunners in each at-bat, the Chargers struggled as eight of the first 11 batters struck out. Emily Roach (Huntsville) was the only UAH hitter to reach on a single down the first base line in the second inning.

In the fifth inning, Lock Haven broke through again Hawkins scoring three runs. Two of the runs came on an RBI double by Erb. Lock Haven picked up another run on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Ilia Lopez.

Yhe Lady Eagles blew the game open in the sixth, batting around and adding five more runs. Lock Haven had four hits, including a two run double by shortstop Ilia Lopez.

The Chargers were unable to mount anything in the bottom of the inning and the season came to an end with a slow roller to second base by Kelli Long (Sterling, Ill.)

Five UAH players, Hawkins, catcher Kristina Prater (Athens), second baseman Michelle Ingram (Wetumpka), Roach and designated player Whitney Schrimsher (Huntsville) were named to the 2009 NCAA Division II Softball All-Tournament team.

 Photo by Chuck Edgeworth

Huntsville - No. 5 Alabama-Huntsville is headed to the Division II Softball World Series after completing a sweep of 3rd-ranked Valdosta State 3-0 on Saturday in the finals of the South Super Regional. With the win, the Chargers will face Central Region winner No. 6 Winona State in the first round of the National Tournament in Salem, Va., May 21-25.

"All year we've worked for a shot at a national championship and now we have it," said UAH head coach Les Stuedeman, who is taking a team to the national finals for the third time. The Chargers were region champions in 1999 and 2001. On both occasions the tournament was in Salem.

Both teams threatened in the first inning getting runners into scoring position. However, neither was able to push across a run.

UAH got on the board in the third inning on a lead-off solo home run by centerfielder Erin Duke.

In the sixth inning, the Chargers padded their lead with a pair of runs. An RBI single by Caitlin Lee made it 2-0, then pinch-runner Carly McGraw scored on a ground-out by Whitney Schrimsher to give UAH a three run lead.

That was all senior Sage Woodham and sophomore closer Alex Lewis would need as they combined to complete the team's second consecutive shutout. Woodham (20-1) pitched the first four innings, allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two. Lewis earned her Division II leading 16th save, working the final three innings. She held VSU to two hits and struck out one.

"We have preached shutouts all year to our pitchers and to get back to back shutouts against that team is amazing," Stuedeman commented.

Senior Brianna Collis (17-2) took the loss for VSU. She pitched five innings, allowed three runs on six hits. She had three strikeouts and a walk.

At the plate, Beth Lawson was 2-for-4 for UAH. Duke's homer was her seventh of the season.

Stephanie Carlson had two hits for Valdosta State, who finished the season with a record of 57-8.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The top-seeded Alabama-Huntsville Chargers advanced to the South Super Regional with a 5-2 win over No. 5 seed West Florida in a steady drizzle on Sunday. With the win, UAH (49-5) will host South 2 Regional winner Valdosta State (56-6) on May 15-16 at the Charger Softball Complex. The winner of the best 2-of-3 series will represent the South Region at the Softball World Series May 21-25 in Salem, Va.

Friday's game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. Game two is scheduled for 1:00, with Game 3 (if necessary on for 3:30. Tickets for the weekend are $10 for an Adult Weekend Pass, $6 Adult Single, $6 Student Weekend Pass and $4 Student Single Day Pass.

Valdosta State enters the Super Regional ranked No. 3 in the NFCA poll and tournament No. 2 seed. Like UAH, the Blazers swept through South Regional 2, beating the University of Tampa and sweeping two from Nova Southeastern.

UAH is the top seed in the Regional and the No. 5 team in Division II. The Chargers knocked off Miles College, Rollins College and West Florida to earn a ticket to the Super Regional.

The two teams split a pair of games during the regular season at Valdosta. The Blazers won the opener 4-2, but UAH rebounded to take game two 9-4. The teams were scheduled to play in Huntsville later in the season, but the doubleheader was rained out. This is the first visit to Huntsville for the Blazers since 2007. However, Valdosta State was one of the first teams to play at the Charger Softball Complex. On April 28, 2007, the two teams split the series as UAH won the opening game 5-1 and VSU taking game two 4-1.

Visit the South Super Regional web home for live stats links, updates and game recaps during the weekend.

In Sunday's championship game, UAH had a huge opportunity to blow the game open in the third inning, loading the bases with a lead-off walk by Kathryn Whitlock and bunt singles by Erin Duke and Kristina Prater. However, the Chargers managed only one run on a sacrifice fly by Kelli Long.

West Florida responded in the top of the fourth inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. Catcher Kristee Wheeler led off with a walk. A sacrifice and base-hit later, pinch-runner Stephanie Ryan scored on a fielder's choice. One batter later, UWF pitcher Emily Burge dropped a base-hit into centerfield and designated player Jillian Lafrance beat the throw to the plate, giving the Argonauts a 2-1 lead.

Alabama-Huntsville came right back in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead on a three-run homer by Duke. Duke's sixth home run of the season gave UAH a 4-2 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Chargers added some insurance on an RBI single by tournament Most Outstanding Player Whitney Hawkins. Hawkins allowed only one more hit and Division II saves record holder Alex Lewis came in to shut UWF down the rest of the way.

Hawkins (17-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out five and walked one. Lewis closed out the last 1 2/3 innings to earn her 15th save of the season.

Burge was the losing pitcher for UWF. The senior pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowed five runs on 10 hits. She struck out three and walked three.

At the plate, four Chargers had two hits apiece. Whitlock was 2-for-2, while Duke and Hawkins were 2-for-3 and Prater 2-for-4. Duke had the homer and three RBI.

For West Florida, both Burge and Shannon Miles were 2-for-3. Burge had a double and an RBI.

I'm proud of the effort today and I'm glad we didn't have to lean heavily on (Beth) Lawson and Caitlin Lee like a crutch to win this game," said UAH head coach Les Stuedeman. "The job is not done. We still have work to do. Our goal all season has been to get to Salem."

"Huntsville is a good hitting ballclub and Emily through her heart out," commented UWF coach Tami Cyr. "We lost to a good team and we wish Huntsville the best at the Super Regional."

All-Tournament team:

Pitchers - Whitney Hawkins (UAH), Jillian Lafrance (UWF)
Catcher - Whitney Schrimsher (UAH)
Infield - Shannon Miles (UWF), Beth Lawson (UAH), Kathryn Whitlock (UAH), Caitlin Lee (UAH)
Outfield - Emily Roach (UAH), Monica Meadows (RC), Erin Duke (UAH)
DP - Emily Burge (UWF)
At-Large - Nicole Anderson (RC), Valerie Pena (MC)
MOP - Whitney Hawkins (UAH)

  Hawkins delivers for Chargers
(Photo by Chuck Edgeworth)

Lee

Lee had another strong week en route to her second Player of the Week honor in three weeks. She had some clutch hits, helping lead the Chargers to two wins over top regional opponents West Florida and Valdosta State on the road. The 5'5" first baseman had five hits on the week, and pumped out nine RBIs for the Chargers. In a 9-4 win over East Division rival #7 Valdosta State, Lee went 2-for-4 with six runs batted in. Lee clubbed two home runs and single handedly outscored VSU.

Hawkins earned her first Pitcher of the Week honor picking up the teams two wins over the weekend. The 5'10" righthander tossed 12 2/3 innings, allowing just six baserunners during that span. She shut out West Florida, throwing a complete game and punching out four. She gave up only one earned run all week.

Chargers remain atop National and Regional polls

The Chargers held on to the top spot in both the NFCA Division II Top 25 and South Region polls. In the NFCA poll, UAH stayed in the No. 1 spot for the second straight week, outdistancing No. 2 North Georgia by 13 points. The Chargers captured 364 points, including seven first place votes, while North Georgia had 351 points and seven first place votes.

Lock Haven moved from fifth to third, while former No. 1 Angelo State fell from No. 2 to No. 4. Southeastern Oklahoma rounded out the top five. Fellow Gulf South Conference member Valdosta State remained No. 7 in the poll.

In the South Region, the Chargers was No. 1, followed by Florida Southern, Valdosta State, West Florida, Rollins, Nova Southeastern, Tampa, Arkansas-Monticello, West Alabama and West Georgia.