MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Softball team scored a pair of non-conference wins on Wednesday, Mar. 16 as the Rams hosted Crowley's Ridge College for an afternoon doubleheader. The Rams made history on Wednesday with their two wins over the Pioneers as the 7-0 game one victory matched the 21-game win streak the 2006 NAIA National Championship team at Mobile recorded throughout the season. Game two's 14-1 blowout victory for Mobile surpassed the win streak the 06' team managed to put together, giving this year's Rams 22 wins in a row to start the 2022 season.
In game one, Mobile scored five runs in the first two innings to start the afternoon off hot with four of those runs coming across the plate in the second inning alone. After Kaylee Pullin drove in Jaden Morace with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, Mattie Evans recorded her first collegiate hit and RBI that scored Eila Infante in the second inning following Infante's leadoff double. Ashlyn Stewart followed Evans' hit with a RBI double to left field and Kristen Black followed that by laying down a suicide squeeze bunt to score Mobile's fourth run of the game. Later in the inning, Jaden Morace grounded out to score the Rams' fourth run of the inning and give Mobile a 5-0 lead over Crowley's Ridge.
The Rams added on in the fourth inning as Ashlyn Stewart blasted a no-doubt home run to left field, her third homer of the season. Stewart finished 2-for-3 with two RBI in the victory. Later in the game, the Rams pushed across an insurance run in the sixth inning after Jaden Morace laid down a bunt single. Kristen Black was thrown out at third on the play, but Morace managed to come all the way around to score following an error that saw the ball roll to right center field.
In the pitcher's circle, Emily Butts allowed just two hits while collecting her ninth win of the season. Freshman Avery Johnston picked up her first save of the season, pitching three one-hit innings to close out the game. Johnston's save is the first on the year for Mobile as a team.
In game two, the offense for Mobile came out fierce, once again scoring five runs across the first two innings, with the big inning coming in the third. Mobile managed to bat around and score a whopping nine runs in the third inning alone to take a 14-1 lead. The Pioneer's lone run of the doubleheader came in the top of the third with a solo home run.
The Rams were held scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, but followed that with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth inning to earn a run-rule victory. Brinkley Goff got the win from the pitching rubber, pitching three innings while allowing just the one run. Goff's record improves to 7-0 this season. Sydnee Fitzgerald made her second appearance from the circle this season and closed out the game with two scoreless innings.
With the bats, Ashlyn Stewart collected two more hits in game two, giving her four on the day. Center fielder Jaden Morace finished 3-for-3 in game two, also recording four hits in the doubleheader, while fellow outfielder Kristen Black raised her season batting average to .500 with two more hits in game two.
Ashlyn Stewart was joined by teammates Eila Infante, Courtney Ellzey, Caitlin McRee, and Kaylee Pullin in all recording two RBIs in the big victory in the second game before being pulled early. With a huge lead entering the middle innings, Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook saw an opportunity to empty her bench and give several players playing time late. Every defensive player, with the exception of Madi Robertson behind the plate, were replaced in the fourth inning.
This year's roster for the UM Softball program is writing their own history as the Rams improve to 22-0 this season. No. 8 Mobile returns to conference play this weekend with four conference games on Friday and Saturday. Blue Mountain College will host Mobile for a doubleheader on Friday, Mar. 18 at 1:30 p.m. CT in Blue Mountain, Miss. The Rams will follow that doubleheader by traveling to Tuscaloosa, Ala. the next day for a noon doubleheader against Stillman College.
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 information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
