MOBILE, Ala. - The incredible 2022 season has become historic for the 2022 University of Mobile Softball team following a four-game home weekend on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 25-26. Following a doubleheader sweep over Faulkner University on Friday night, this season's softball team at Mobile matched the all-time program record with their 28th win in a row, a record that was originally set 25 years ago by the 1997 team. The following day on Saturday, Mar. 26, the Rams, who currently rank No. 6 in the NAIA, hosted Talladega College for a conference doubleheader and managed to go into the history books by breaking the all-time record with their 29th-straight win following Mobile's 8-0 game one victory.
Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook, who is in her fifth year at the helm of the UM Softball program, gave two reasons when asked about the special qualities that her 2022 team possesses. "The chemistry and the team work," Sellers-Cook answered. "They are phenomenal team players. They are one hundred percent behind one another, it doesn't matter who is on that field, they have their back and they have the desire for everybody to do well; they're selfless," she said.
For Sellers-Cook, she has managed a 170-52 overall record at Mobile, putting her 30 wins shy of 200. In her five seasons as head coach at Mobile, Sellers-Cook has never had a losing season. "She makes us feel like a family," former Ram and current assistant coach Payton Adams said when asked about the program leader in Sellers-Cook. "She's our coach at the end of the day, but she's a Mom too. She makes us a whole. We are all one," Adams said.
The Rams put together two 8-0 run-rule wins against Talladega College on Saturday to extend the all-time program record to 30-straight victories. In game one, Emily Butts pitched a five inning no-hitter against the Tornadoes, striking out six batters. At the plate, Jaden Morace led the team with three RBIs, while Courtney Ellzey led Mobile with two hits in the win. Five players drove in at least one run in the win.
In game two, Brinkley Goff worked five innings from the pitcher's circle, allowing just one hit. Avery Johnston pitched the sixth inning before Mobile ended the game in the bottom half with their eighth run of the game. Caitlin McRee finished 4-for-4 at the plate with four singles and scoring two runs, and Courtney Ellzey recorded two RBIs. Both Eila Infante and Katie Head put together a 2-for-4 line, with Katie Head driving in the game-winning double in the sixth to score Chloe Buck and end the game early. Head joined Ellzey in finishing with two RBIs, and has had playing time increased due to the injured Carleigh Bowden.
Coincidentally enough, both Katie Head's and Carleigh Bowden's Mothers, Leslie Head and Jennifer Bowden, were members of the 1997 softball team at Mobile that held the previous consecutive wins record. Jennifer played the same position in the outfield as her freshman daughter, Carleigh, does on the 2022 team.
"I'm pretty excited. It's pretty good," head coach Alison Sellers-Cook said when asked how she was feeling about matching and surpassing the all-time consecutive wins record this weekend. She concluded, "They have worked so hard for this. Watching it be a complete team effort was really, really good."
Mobile is scheduled to host a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, Mar. 30 against Xavier University of Louisiana at the UM Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday afternoon as the Rams look to add on to their new all-time team record.
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.
