MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Softball program, led by head coach Alison Sellers-Cook, returned to action with a conference doubleheader against Faulkner University at the UM Softball Field on Friday afternoon, Mar. 25. The doubleheader was tabbed as the SSAC Softball Series of the Week by the Southern States Athletic Conference which saw both teams receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, with Mobile sitting at No. 6 in the rankings and Faulkner sitting just outside the top 25.
The Rams' entered Friday with a 26-0 overall record, putting them two wins shy of the all-time program record with 28-straight victories set by the 1997 softball team at Mobile. Following the Rams' 6-3 victory over the Eagles of Faulkner in game one, Mobile managed a 8-0 run-rule victory in game two to earn a doubleheader sweep over Faulkner and tie the all-time record with the team's 28th-straight win.
Game One Recap - (6) Mobile 6, (RV) Faulkner 3
In game one, Emily Butts was awarded the start and pitched her eighth complete game of the season. Butts gave up three runs off 10 hits as the defense for Mobile played outstanding most of the game. Butts improved to 13-0 from the pitcher's circle as her earned-run-average remains below one at 0.96 in 87.1 innings pitched on the season.
The Rams scored their first runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Caitlin McRee laced a two-run single to right center field. Mobile added on in the inning as Courtney Ellzey connected on a RBI double to left field and Ashlyn Stewart later managed a RBI groundout to put the Rams ahead 4-0 entering the middle innings.
In the top of the fifth, Faulkner managed to cut Mobile's lead in half by scoring their first two runs of the game. The Eagles did a great job late in having the leadoff batter of each inning reach base to begin the inning.
In the sixth inning, Mobile tacked on two huge insurance runs to go back up four runs over Faulkner. Kaylee Pullin, the current conference leader in RBIs, drove in both runs with a single to the outfield. With the Rams up 6-2 going into the final inning, Faulkner pushed across one run in the seventh, but eventually stranded a runner on third as Emily Butts worked three-straight ground outs to end the game.
Game Two Recap - (6) Mobile 8, (RV) Faulkner 0 - 5 Innings
In game two, which started about 30 minutes after game one, Mobile managed to score one run and send seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning. Mobile's lone run came via a bases-loaded walk by Ashlyn Stewart.
Mobile later added on with a run in the bottom of the third. Courtney Ellzey drove in the Rams' second run of the game with a single up the middle that scored Caitlin McRee. The following inning, the Rams opened up the ballgame and pushed across four runs. Kaylee Pullin got the scoring started in the fourth with a RBI single scoring Kristen Black. Courtney Ellzey followed with her second hit of the game up the middle that scored Pullin. Finally, Ashlyn Stewart drove a ball to right field for a single that scored two runs for Mobile. The Rams entered the fifth inning just needing two runs to end the game via a run-rule.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mobile managed to put two runners in scoring position with two outs on the board. Caitlin McRee then smoked a ball to deep right field for a triple, scoring the two runs for Mobile and ending the game. Mobile's 8-0 win earned the Rams a tie for the all-time program record.
From the circle, Brinkley Goff was dominant, tossing five scoreless innings and recorded a season-high eight strikeouts. Goff lowered her ERA to 1.15 on the season and moved to 10-0 this season from the rubber.
Across both games, the Rams recorded a total of 20 hits, with 10 hits in each game. Caitlin McRee finished the doubleheader 4-for-7 at the plate with four RBI. Courtney Ellzey also had a nice day at the dish, going 4-for-5 with three RBI. Meanwhile, Kaylee Pullin extended her RBI lead in the conference with three more on the day, giving her 39 total across 28 games. Pullin managed a 3-for-8 line at the plate.
On the pitching side of things, Emily Butts and Brinkley Goff, both who have been awarded SSAC Softball Pitchers of the Week this season, combined for 12 innings of work, allowing just three runs of 13 Faulkner hits. Butts and Goff combined for 14 strikeouts.
Potential Record-Breaking Game on Saturday
The UM Softball team will look to break the all-time program record in consecutive wins with their 29th-straight tomorrow afternoon, Mar. 26 at 12:00 p.m. CT. Mobile will host Talladega College at the UM Softball Field for a doubleheader on Saturday as both games will be broadcasted live at https://team1sports.com/umobilerams/.
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.
