MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Softball team returned to the field for the first time during the 2022 season and hosted non-division opponent Southeastern Baptist College in a doubleheader at the UM Softball Field. The two games were played Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 9 in front of a large opening day crowd. The Rams did not disappoint as the bats exploded in the doubleheader, eventually run-ruling the Chargers in both games played. The Rams, led by fifth-year head coach Alison Sellers-Cook, improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Game One Recap - MOB 12, SBC 0 / 5 Innings
After a scoreless top half of the first inning in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader, the Rams put together a six-run bottom half of the first as senior Jaden Morace ripped an inside-the-park home run to lead off the game for Mobile offensively. Morace's hard-hit ball was hit to left-center field as she never slowed up rounding the bases.
In the second inning, Mobile scored five more runs to extend their lead to 11 runs. Freshman Ashlyn Stewart, starting at third base for Mobile on Wednesday, drove a solo shot to left-center for her first collegiate home run. Later in the inning and after Mobile managed to load the bases, freshman Carleigh Bowden crushed a grand slam for her first collegiate homer. Both Stewart and Bowden are in their first year with Mobile and true freshman.
In the pitcher's circle, Emily Butts pitched five scoreless innings to begin the season with a shutout win. Butts struck out four batters while allowing just three hits. In collegiate softball, if one team is leading by eight or more runs after five innings, the game is called and is final. Mobile scored 11 of the team's 12 runs in the first two innings as eight of nine hitters in the lineup recorded at least one RBI in the game.
In their first year of sponsoring softball as a sport, Southeastern Baptist College struggled on the defensive side as the Chargers committed five errors in game one, several in the first two innings, handing the Rams multiple opportunities to score.
Game Two Recap - MOB 17, SBC 2 / 5 Innings
In game two, it was much of the same for the Rams as the offense exploded for 17 runs in another five-inning game, scoring 11 runs in the second inning alone. All 11 runs in the second inning were scored with two outs on the scoreboard.
Because Mobile had such a big lead in game two, Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook saw an opportunity to play several players from off her bench. A total of 16 Rams took at least one at-bat in game two. Starting right fielder Katie Head drove in three RBIs off two hits from the number nine spot in the lineup, one hit being a two-run double. Madilyn Sheffield, who was awarded her first start behind the plate catching for the Rams in game two, also drove in three runs off two hits. Head and Sheffield led the team with three RBIs each.
Brianna Crim, a late entry in the ballgame, blasted her first home run of the season to left field. Crim is in her second year with Mobile out of Thomasville, Ala. The Rams managed to hit four home runs in two games to begin the season following Crim's homer.
In the pitcher's circle, freshman Avery Johnston got the win by pitching all five innings, allowing just two runs to score via a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning. Johnston struck out six, walked four, and allowed two hits in her collegiate debut.
All in all, it was a great start to the 2022 season for the University of Mobile Softball program as Mobile scored a total of 29 runs in just 10 innings played across two games. The Rams allowed just two opponent runs in the doubleheader off only five hits.
Mobile will look to carry their hot bats with them to Lawrenceville, Ga. for a big non-conference doubleheader against Georgia Gwinnett College on Friday, Feb. 19. Mobile and Georgia Gwinnett's meeting will be a doubleheader and is the 14th meeting in history between the two programs. Mobile is 4-6 against Georgia Gwinnett in their last 10 meetings.
Mobile's next home game will fall on Mar. 8 at 3:00 p.m. CT, just under a month away, as the Rams will battle two different teams in a three-team tournament at the UM Softball Field.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
