MONTGOMERY, Ala. - After having the last eight days off, the University of Mobile Softball team returned to action on Tuesday afternoon, Apr. 25, traveling two and a half hours north to Montgomery, Ala. for a conference doubleheader against Faulkner University. Mobile swept Faulkner in two games back on Mar. 10 of this season, and managed to keep that trend going on Tuesday with two more victories.
Mobile, who ranks No. 15 in the NAIA, managed a 1-0 win following a pitchers duel across game one, and earned a 7-3 win in game two to earn the sweep over Faulkner. With just two games remaining during the 2023 regular season after Tuesday's doubleheader, Mobile currently sits tied for first with Middle Georgia State in the SSAC Softball standings with a 21-5 conference record, maintaining a 34-11 overall record on the year. Middle Georgia State owns the tiebreaker over Mobile by winning the regular season series.
Game One Recap - (15) Mobile 1, Faulkner 0
In a briskly-paced game one to begin the afternoon, neither team managed much offense as the doubleheader began with a pitchers duel. Mobile freshman starter Avery Harrell got the nod from head coach Alison Sellers-Cook and faced off with Faulkner's Ivey Hill. After Harrell gave up a leadoff double in the bottom of the first inning, the Grove Hill, Ala. native settled down extremely well and did not allow another hit until the sixth.
For the Mobile offense, Ashlyn Stewart managed to drive in the Rams' lone run in the top half of the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Caitlin McRee led off the inning with a three-base error by the Faulkner right fielder to give Mobile the lone run needed for the victory. Hill for Faulkner only allowed three hits total against the Mobile offense in the pitcher's circle, but the costly error came back to haunt the Eagles in the end.
For Harrell, she allowed just two hits in the game and added nine strikeouts against the Eagles. Faulkner managed two hard hit balls in the bottom of the final inning off Harrell, but the Rams' defense shined with two dazzling plays by center fielder Kristen Black and first baseman Caitlin McRee. Black made an impressive grab crashing into the wall to begin the inning, eventually seeing a cleat stuck in the fence, while McRee caught a line drive down the right field line one batter later. Both plays could have easily been extra bases for Faulkner.
In the one-run win, Ashlyn Stewart finished 1-for-2 with the game-winning RBI, while Harrell improved to 3-1 from the circle this season. Mobile's other two hits came from the bottom of the Mobile lineup with Katie Head and Mattie Evans each recording a base knock.
Game Two Recap - (15) Mobile 7, Faulkner 3
Later on Tuesday afternoon, offense was much more frequent across game two for both teams. The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, but Faulkner managed three total runs across the third and fourth. For the Rams, the offense took off in the final four innings, scoring one run in the top of the fourth with a RBI single by catcher Madilyn Sheffield. One inning later, the Rams used a four-run fifth to grab the lead and not look back.
Mobile's big inning began with a two-run double by Caitlin McRee, her team-leading 11th two-bagger of the season. Later, freshman Lillie Lanham recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice, while Madilyn Sheffield recorded her second RBI of the game following a bases-loaded walk. The Rams added insurance runs across the sixth and seventh innings with a Ashlyn Stewart RBI single in the sixth, and a Kristen Black RBI groundout in the final inning. The Rams earned a four-run win in game two for the season sweep over Faulkner.
Caitlin McRee finished 3-for-4 at the plate in game two, driving in two runs on the double, while Lillie Lanham, Katie Head, and Madilyn Sheffield all recorded two hits each from the six, seven, and eight spots in the lineup. In the circle, Brinkley Goff got the win with four innings of work, and Emily Butts closed things out for her second save of the season. Butts closed the game with three innings of one-hit ball.
Two Left for the Regular Season
Following the road doubleheader on Tuesday in Montgomery, Mobile is scheduled to face conference rival William Carey one day later on Wednesday, Apr. 26. Wednesday's doubleheader was originally scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 27, but inclement weather forced officials to move the regular season finale up one day.
Mobile will face the Crusaders at 3:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday in Hattiesburg, Miss.
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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.
