ALEXANDRIA, La. - The University of Mobile Softball program, led by sixth-year head coach Alison Sellers-Cook, opened the 2023 season on the road in Alexandria, La. on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 9, playing a non-conference doubleheader against LSU-Alexandria (La.). The Rams, who enter the 2023 campaign as the second-ranked team in the NAIA Softball Top 25 Coaches' Preseason Poll, came away with two victories over the Generals of LSU-A, taking game one by the score of 9-1, and following with a 1-0 game two win. Mobile finished the 2022 season last year with a 52-4 overall record and as the runner-up in the NAIA Softball National Championship game.
The two wins for Mobile on Thursday begins a four-game weekend trip to Louisiana as Mobile will compete in the LSU-A Softball Tournament beginning tomorrow.
Game One Recap: Mobile 9, LSU-Alexandria 1
In game one to start off the afternoon, it was Mobile who hit the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning against LSU-A. Leadoff batter in the lineup Kristen Black worked a bases-loaded walk for the season's first run, putting Mobile on top early. LSU-A managed to escape the bases-loaded jam by giving up just the one Mobile run in the second, but Mobile continued their offensive momentum one inning later.
In the top of the third inning, the Rams once again loaded the bases against LSU-A's pitching staff and eventually saw starting shortstop Tempest Hebert lace a bases-clearing double to left field. Down 4-0, LSU-A finally managed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth following a Mobile error on defense. Up three and in search of insurance runs, the Rams put together a four-run seventh inning to extend the lead to eight runs. Ashlyn Stewart blasted a two-run homer in the inning and was followed by a solo shot by Hebert. Freshman Avery Harrell then closed things out in the pitcher's circle for Mobile with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the Rams' first win of the season.
Emily Butts, one of four NAIA All-Americans last season for head coach Alison Sellers-Cook, got the start in the circle for Mobile, pitching six innings and allowing four hits. Butts walked three batters and struck out five, while seeing just the lone LSU-A run cross the plate. At the plate, Tempest Hebert finished 2-for-4 with a homer and double, tallying four RBIs. Ashlyn Stewart followed Hebert with a 2-for-3 line, collecting two RBIs. As a team, Mobile out-hit LSU-A in game one 7-5 and worked seven base-on-balls.
Game Two Recap: Mobile 1, LSU-Alexandria 0
In game two, offense was hard to come by for both teams as just one run crossed the plate. Mobile pushed across the game's only run in the top of the second inning after Ashlyn Stewart drove in Carleigh Bowden with a double to left field. From there, it was a pitcher's dual between Mobile and LSU-A as the two pitching staffs combined to give up six total hits in the game.
Mobile starting pitcher Brinkley Goff, another NAIA All-American last season, pitched a three-hitter, striking out four Generals in the process during the complete-game performance. The Rams tallied three hits as a team, with the top three hitters in the Mobile lineup each tallying one hit a piece. Stewart's RBI double was the deciding hit in game two to give Mobile a doubleheader sweep on the road to open the season.
LSU-A Tourney
With two wins in their pocket, the Rams are scheduled for two more games this week, both coming on Friday, Feb. 10 in the LSU-A Softball Tournament in LeCompte, La. The Rams open the day with a morning matchup against the University of Houston-Victoria (Tex.) at 10:30 a.m. CT, and follows that with a 12:30 p.m. CT showdown against No. 8 Central Methodist (Mo.).
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.
