HUNTSVILLE – The University of North Alabama softball team opened play at the 2015 UAH Charger Chillout with a 2-0 mark Friday, knocking off No. 21 Indianapolis and Bellarmine to improve to 4-0 on the season. Brittany Gillison was 5-for-8 on the day with 11 RBI to lead the Lions.
In the opener against Indianapolis, Gillison set a new single-game school record with nine RBI as UNA posted a 16-3 mercy-rule win in five innings. She had a grand slam and a three-run triple in the bottom of the first inning to break the previous mark of six, set by Jill James in 2000 and Mallory Patterson in 2013. The senior from Pell City added a two-run single in the third inning and finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate.
UNA took control of the game with a 10-run first inning. The Lions sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs off four hits. After the Greyhounds added a single run in the top of the second, UNA responded with four runs in the bottom of the third. A two-run double by Libby Olinger set the stage for Gillison's single to the right side that made the score 14-1.
Indianapolis was able to plate two runs in the top of the fourth before the Lions answered in the bottom of the frame. A lead-off single by Harlie Barkley was followed by Courtney Shields reaching on an error. Amy Carden drove them both home on a single to right center. She finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with the two RBI.
Hillary Carpenter (2-0) pitched her second straight complete game to get the win in the circle. She scattered eight hits, allowing three runs with five strikeouts.
Against Bellarmine, the Lions again jumped out to an early lead. After the first three batters reached base, Gillison's single down the left line gave UNA a 2-0 lead. Brooklynn Clark followed with an RBI-double to make the score 3-0.
The Knights answered with a single run in the bottom of the second, but would not score again. BreeAnna Blevins (2-0) allowed just one hit and struck out 12 batters in the complete-game victory.
After adding a single run in the top of the fourth inning, UNA plated two more runs in the fifth. Back-to-back RBI-doubles by Clark and Reagan Tittle made the score 6-1. Madeline Lee led off the seventh inning with a triple and later scored on an RBI-groundout by Shields to account for the final score.
Tittle finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate while Clark, Gillison and Shields each posted 2-for-4 showings.
UNA will remain in Huntsville for two more games at the Chillout on Saturday. The Lions will face fifth-ranked Wayne State at Noon before playing Ohio Dominican at 4 p.m.
