UM SOFTBALL FIELD, MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Softball team returned to action on Friday evening, Apr. 14, hosting a conference doubleheader against Blue Mountain Christian University. Due to inclement weather forecasted for the Mobile, Ala. over the weekend, Friday's doubleheader also became Senior Day as two graduating Rams (Tempest Hebert and Mackenzie Jackson) were honored pregame and postgame with a cookout.
In game one between the Rams and Toppers, No. 15 Mobile managed a 5-3 comeback victory after Blue Mountain scored two early runs. Later in the nightcap, Mobile used a walk-off win in extra innings to sweep the Toppers and improve to 28-11 overall on the season. Additionally, Friday's two wins improves Mobile's conference record to 15-5 on the year. The two wins over Blue Mountain improved Mobile's current win streak over the Toppers to 15-straight games dating back to the 2018 season.
Game One Recap - Rams Come Up Clutch in Middle Innings
To start off the afternoon, Blue Mountain surprised many by scoring two early runs off three hits in the top of the first inning against Mobile starting pitcher Emily Butts. The Toppers sent seven players to the plate in the first, leaving two runners on base to end the inning. Butts settled down in the pitcher's circle following the first, however, as the senior managed to toss four-straight scoreless innings.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mobile was able to get on the scoreboard following a squeeze play at the plate by Ashlyn Stewart. Stewart's bunt scored Kristen Black from third as the Rams cut the deficit to just one run. Later that same inning, Tempest Hebert drove a double to the left center field gap to tie the game, 2-2. Hebert's double scored Madi Robertson and came following an 11-pitch at-bat.
With the game tied 2-2 entering the bottom half of the fifth, Mobile's bats stayed hot from the inning before as the Rams took the lead with a three-run inning. Kristen Black drove in two with a single up the middle, her second hit of the game, and later came in to score following a Caitlin McRee RBI base hit. After Blue Mountain was able to get a run back in the top of the sixth, Emily Butts shut down the Toppers' rally as the Rams came up victorious 5-3 in game one.
Blue Mountain outhit Mobile 7-6 in the losing effort across game one, with the Toppers leaving five runners on base. Mobile left just two runners on base and worked one walk. Kristen Black recorded a 2-for-3 line at the plate, scoring two runs and adding two RBIs from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Meanwhile, Emily Butts notched her 14th complete game of the season from the circle to improve to 13-5 this year. Butts continues to lead Mobile in innings pitched this season with 122 1/3 innings of work.
Game Two Recap - Senior Comes Up Big on Senior Day
In game two later on Friday evening, Blue Mountain once again scored two early runs in the game to take an early lead over Mobile, this time coming in the top of the second inning. The Rams answered back one inning later, however, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. Nine-hole hitter Mattie Evans came up with a big RBI single down the left field line for Mobile's first run, while Caitlin McRee tied the game in the third with a sacrifice fly. From there, the game became a pitcher's duel between Mobile starter Brinkley Goff and Blue Mountain ace Harley Mullins.
Finally after 4 1/2 scoreless innings and the game going to extra innings, Mobile managed to push across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to avoid the upset and sweep the Toppers on Friday. Madi Robertson began the eighth-inning rally with an infield single. She advanced to second one batter later on a groundout. With two outs on the board and a runner at second, senior Tempest Hebert came up clutch and lined a single to center field for the game-winning hit. Hebert was one of Mobile's two seniors honored pregame on Friday, as the Semmes, Ala. native came up with a walk-off hit to conclude Senior Day.
Hebert finished 1-for-4 at the plate in game two, with her lone hit being the decider. Freshman Lillie Lanham ended Friday with a 2-for-2 line at the dish, while Mattie Evans finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. In the circle, Brinkley Goff pitched seven innings and struck out nine Toppers. Freshman reliever Avery Harrell pitched a scoreless top of the eighth and was awarded the win. Mobile outhit Blue Mountain in game two, 8-7.
One Final Home Series Ahead
Coming off the Friday sweep over Blue Mountain, the Rams are scheduled for one final doubleheader at the UM Softball Field this season, scheduled for Monday afternoon, Apr. 17 at 3:00 p.m. CT. Mobile will face Stillman College on Monday, a team that the Rams split a doubleheader with earlier in the year.
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.
