CHICKASHA, Okla. - The University of Mobile Softball team saw the 2023 season conclude on Wednesday evening, May 17, falling to the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) in the NAIA Softball Opening Round Championship game of the Chickasha Bracket. The day began with the Rams playing their way in to the championship game, defeating Avila University (Mo.), 6-2. Later that afternoon, Mobile met the Drovers of USAO for the second time during this year's opening round tournament, eventually dropping the must-win game, 1-0.
Wednesday Recap
To open the day, Mobile defeated Avila by four runs, with the offense collecting 11 hits through the seven innings played. The Rams relied on two three-run innings in the game, scoring three across both the second and third frames. In the second inning, Ashlyn Stewart opened the scoring with a solo home run, her third of the year. Later in the inning, Madi Robertson came up with an RBI single for Mobile's second run, while an Avila error allowed the third run to cross the plate. One inning later, Mobile pushed across three more runs, two coming off a single to left field by Mattie Evans.
Mobile's early offense eventually proved to be too much for Avila as the Eagles only recorded seven hits, with two runs being scored. Mobile's 6-2 victory propelled the Rams to the opening round championship game against USAO, where Mobile needed two victories over the Drovers to advance to the 2023 NAIA Softball World Series. In the win over Avila, Madi Robertson led the Rams offensively with 2-for-2 batting line, working two walks. Madilyn Sheffield, Katie Head, and Mattie Evans each collected two hits, while Brinkley Goff tossed her 17th complete game from the pitcher's circle this season.
In the second meeting between Mobile and USAO of this year's opening round, the matchup became a pitcher's duel between Mobile starter Brinkley Goff, reliever Emily Butts, and USAO starting pitcher Sophie Williams. Williams eventually out-dueled the Mobile pitching staff as the Rams only mustered two hits in the game. Meanwhile USAO collected six hits, scoring the game's lone run in the top of the fourth. The fourth-inning run eventually became enough for USAO as the Drovers advanced to this year's NAIA Softball World Series with a 1-0 win over Mobile.
For Goff, the senior ended the game with 3 1/3 innings of work, allowing the lone run scored, after pitching a complete game against Avila earlier in the day. Emily Butts concluded the game against USAO with 3 2/3 innings of one-hit ball to keep the Rams in the game. At the plate, Mobile's two hits came off the bats of Caitlin McRee and Katie Head, while Tempest Hebert worked Mobile's lone walk of the ballgame.
Across the tournament, Mobile relied heavily on Katie Head and Brinkley Goff, with Goff finishing the Chickasha Bracket with 23 1/3 innings pitched in four appearances, adding 13 strikeouts and only allowing six runs. For Katie Head, the senior recorded at least one hit in every game played during the opening round, finishing 8-for-13 at the plate. Four of Head's hits went for extra bases.
On to the Offseason
Mobile heads to the offseason after finishing the 2023 season with 40 wins, while losing just 15 games on the year. Head coach Alison Sellers-Cook collected her 200th-career win at Mobile and returns the majority of her roster for the 2024 season. Several Rams earned postseason awards in the SSAC, with some having a chance to be awarded NAIA Softball All-American honors.
Following the 40-15 campaign, Mobile has now put together back-to-back 40-win seasons under Sellers-Cook's leadership.
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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.
