HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Two top-ranked softball teams in the NAIA went to battle on Friday evening, Apr. 1 in Hattiesburg, Miss. as the sixth-ranked and undefeated Rams of the University of Mobile faced the No. 7 William Carey Crusaders for a conference doubleheader. Entering the doubleheader on Friday, Mobile has managed to put together a historic start to the 2022 season, winning 30 consecutive games without a loss on the record. William Carey entered Friday with a 32-3 overall record. Both teams sit atop the current SSAC Softball standings as Friday's bout was tabbed as the SSAC Softball Series of the Week.
Doubleheader Recap - Rams Sweep the Crusaders
In what quickly became a pitcher's dual in game one, Mobile eventually scored the first run of the game in the sixth inning following a sacrifice fly by Madilyn Sheffield. With the Rams up 1-0 going into the seventh and final inning, Mobile managed to push across an insurance run in the top of the seventh following a William Carey error that eventually scored Jaden Morace. From there, the score held up and the Rams took game one 2-0 for the team's 31st-straight victory.
Emily Butts was dominant from the pitcher's circle, pitching her 14th complete game of the season and allowing just three Crusader hits. Butts struck out six William Carey batters and now sits with a 15-0 record from the circle in 18 appearances, while lowering her ERA to 0.85 across 99 1/3 innings of work.
Offensively, Mobile out-hit William Carey 7-3 in game one, with Caitlin McRee being the lone Ram to record multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with a RBI.
In game two, the Rams scored two runs early in the top of the first inning over William Carey. Caitlin McRee laid down a perfect bunt for a squeeze play, scoring Jaden Morace from third to get the scoring started. Courtney Ellzey later followed in the inning with an RBI single to left field which scored Kaylee Pullin.
Later in the game, Mobile pushed across two more runs over the Crusaders in the fifth inning to add on to the team's current two-run lead. Jaden Morace scored Kristen Black following a double to left field, her eighth double of the season. Kaylee Pullin followed with a single to center field that scored Morace and added on to Pullin's RBI season total. Pullin now has a team and conference high 42 runs-batted-in this year and currently sits fourth among the entire NAIA division with that total.
The Rams eventually won game two 4-0 over William Carey, to shut out the seventh-ranked team in the country across two games and 14 innings. Brinkley Goff pitched her 13th complete game of the season in 14 appearances in game two, while improving to 12-0 from the circle. Goff lowered her ERA to under one at 0.96. Mobile's team ERA sits just above one at 1.05.
At the plate, both Jaden Morace and Kaylee Pullin finished with two hits a piece and combined for three of Mobile's four runs in the game.
Historic Win on Friday for Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook
History continues to be made for the University of Mobile Softball program during the 2022 season as the game one win for Mobile over the Crusaders was the 500th career win for Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook. Prior to Mobile, Sellers-Cook recorded a 329-263 overall record at Spring Hill College as head coach, while adding what is now a 172-52 overall record at Mobile alone in just her fifth season at the helm of the program.
Sellers-Cook has led her team to a new program record in consecutive wins this season, which now sits at 32 following Friday's two big wins over William Carey. The current win streak places the 2022 Mobile team eighth all-time in the NAIA in consecutive wins in a season, with the all-time record sitting at 47-straight wins from the 2017 University of Oklahoma City team. Additionally, the 2006 NAIA National Championship team at Mobile sits second all-time in the NAIA's best win percentages at .962 (51-2), with the current 2022 team at UM currently on pace to break that record.
Another Ranked Opponent Ahead
With two wins over William Carey putting Mobile in sole possession of first place in the current SSAC Softball standings, the Rams and Crusaders are set to meet again on Tuesday, Apr. 19 at the UM Softball Field for a 4:00 p.m. CT start.
The Rams will return to non-conference action against another ranked opponent next Tuesday, Apr. 5 when Mobile hosts the 15th-ranked Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies. Tuesday afternoon's doubleheader is scheduled for at 3:00 p.m. CT at the UM Softball Field. Mobile swept Georgia Gwinnett in a doubleheader in Lawrenceville, Ga. earlier in the season. Both of Tuesday's games will be broadcasted 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.
