SALEM, Va. – The No. 2 Lock Haven University softball team (47-6) was edged 3-1 today by the No. 5 University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (53-5) in the second game for both teams at the 2009 NCAA Division II Softball National Championship tournament.

Both teams won yesterday to earn their way into the winner’s bracket second round game today at James I. Moyer Complex in Salem, Va.

Yesterday, LHU downed No. 12 Le Moyne College 5-0 and UAH topped Winona State 1-0.

Today’s game proved to be a thriller, with two of the nation’s top pitchers going face-to-face.

Each team had six hits in the game, but it was UAH, who found the run support it needed to edge The Haven.

Alabama-Huntsville’s three runs came off six hits and Lock Haven’s one run came off six hits.

Senior-pitcher Kristen Erb (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) gave it everything she had today and hurled a 10-strikeout effort. Erb went the distance in the loss.

Fellow senior Sarah Norris (West Chester, Pa./West Chester) had the bat going again and went 3-4 today. She’s now 7-for-8 at the plate over two games in NCAA tournament action.

Three other players recorded hits for LHU, including Ilia Lopez (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg), who went 1-for-3 with Lock Haven’s lone RBI.

Yesterday Lopez was 2-for-4, as she continues to provide solid at bats for Lock Haven coach Kelley Green and her squad.

Whitney Hawkins picked up the win for the Charges after throwing 6.2 innings of solid softball. She struck out six and walked only one.

It looked as if LHU was going to break open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third, as the Lady Eagles found themselves with the bases loaded and just one out.

Hawkins however was able to get out of the jam without any damage done.

The game remained scoreless until the top of fourth inning when the Chargers went up 2-0 on a two-run home run by Hawkins, who was looking to do anything she could to help her own cause in an exciting pitcher’s duel.

Lock Haven got it within one run in the bottom of the fifth, when Lopez drove in senior Nancy O’Connor (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East).

The Chargers weren’t done yet and tacked on an insurance-run in the top of the sixth inning.

Lock Haven is back in action tomorrow (Saturday, May 23) at 4 p.m. LHU will meet the winner of the noon game, which pits Dixie State against Indianapolis.