CLINTON, Miss. | The sixth-seeded UAH softball team fell to third-seeded Tampa by a final score of 4-3 in nine innings to open play at the 2024 NCAA South 2 Regional on the campus of Mississippi College on Thursday. UAH slides to 39-17, while UT rises to 42-9.
 
UAH is now set to play in an elimination game on Friday at 2:30 p.m. against the loser of No. 2 seed Mississippi College and No. 7 seed West Alabama, while Tampa takes on the winner of MC and West Alabama at noon Friday.
 
The Chargers held a 3-2 lead through the fifth inning, but Tampa was able to plate one run in the sixth that would force extra innings. The Spartans went on to win it in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double by Mariah Gallhouse.
 
Kaylee Vaught posted a team-high two base hits to go along with one run, as UAH totaled seven hits overall as a team.
 
The Chargers registered a pair of extra-base hits highlighted by a solo home run by Laura Harbin in addition to one double by Jada Henderson. Harbin's homer was her ninth of the season, while Henderson connected on her 17th double of 2024.
 
Katie Bracken started and later re-entered out of the bullpen for the Chargers, turning in a total of 8.1 innings with three earned runs allowed and three strikeouts. Her record slides to 17-6 this season with the loss.
 
UAH is amidst its 26th all-time appearance in the NCAA tournament.