MOBILE, Ala. - One day after a 5-4 victory over Spring Hill College (Ala.) on Opening Day, the University of Mobile Softball team met the Badgers of Spring Hill for a doubleheader at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. on Friday afternoon, Feb. 9. Mobile and Spring Hill eventually split Friday's doubleheader, with both games needing extra innings to decide a winner. Similar to the first game of the weekend long series, Mobile earned a 5-4 win in eight innings to begin Friday's action, with Spring Hill bouncing back with a 4-3 win in nine innings in the series finale.
Mobile's overall record moves to 2-1 during the 2024 opening weekend, while Spring Hill advances to 1-6 this season.
Game One Recap: Mobile 5, Spring Hill 4 - 8 Innings
To open Friday's doubleheader, Mobile hit the scoreboard first with an early run to begin the game as Jill Robinson produced an RBI single up the middle to give the Rams a 1-0 lead. Emily Butts, the season opener winner from the pitcher's circle, was awarded her first start of the season and pitched a scoreless first inning against the Badgers' bats. However, Spring Hill managed to grab their first lead of the series by pushing across two runs off Butts in the bottom of the second, with only one run being earned following an error.
Mobile did eventually reclaim the lead in the top of the fourth as newcomer Megan McCartney drove the team's first home run of the season to left field, scoring Erin Degruise in the process. McCartney's two-run homer gave Mobile a 3-2 lead entering the back-half of game one on Friday. The Badgers responded with two more runs off Butts in the bottom half of the fifth, taking a 4-3 lead. Mobile kept the trend of answering back going, though, as Madilyn Sheffield's single to center field in the top of the sixth tied the game at four runs a piece. From there, the game went to extra innings.
Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook went to the bullpen in the seventh, with Brinkley Goff pitching the remainder of the game for the Rams. With the extra-inning rule in affect and a runner starting on second in the eighth, Madilyn Sheffield came up clutch again and drove a single to left field to push across the go-ahead run. Goff then put together two scoreless frames without giving up a hit to close out the game for Mobile and earn the victory on the rubber.
Mobile collected 10 hits as a team, with both Sheffield and Megan McCartney recording two RBIs each. Sheffield, along with Jill Robinson and Sarah Brannan, finished 2-for-4 at the plate in the 5-4 win to lead the offense. Mobile batters did not strikeout against Spring Hill pitching across game one. For Mobile pitching, Emily Butts and Brinkley Goff combined to strike out six batters without issuing a walk, allowing just four total hits.
Game Two Recap: Spring Hill 4, Mobile 3 - 9 Innings
Similar to game one, Mobile hit the scoreboard early in the top of the first inning to open the second game, this time pushing across two runs. Madilyn Sheffield kept her strong day at the plate going as the junior smoked a two-run triple to center field. The Badgers immediately responded in the bottom half of the first, also scoring two runs. Sophomore Avery Harrell got the start for Mobile in the circle, with just one of two runs allowed in the first being earned. From there, it was zeros across the board until the game went to extra innings.
In the eighth, the Rams took the lead off a sacrifice fly from Caitlin McRee. Now needing just three outs for the series sweep, Mobile allowed Spring Hill to score the equalizer in the bottom half. One inning later, Spring Hill walked off Mobile following an RBI fielder's choice and defeated the Rams, 4-3.
Avery Harrell pitched the entire game for Mobile, allowing just one earned run in 8 1/3 innings of work. She gave up just two hits against Spring Hill, while striking out five batters and walking three. At the plate, Mobile managed six hits, with Madilyn Sheffield being the only Ram to record multiple hits. Sheffield finished the game with a 2-for-3 batting line, recording two RBIs. Mobile struck out just twice as a team in game two on Friday.
First Tournament of the Season on Tap
Following the 2-1 start to open the 2024 campaign, the Rams are set to travel to Columbus, Ga. for the annual NFCA Leadoff Classic. Mobile is scheduled to play five games across the tournament, with the tourney being held from Friday-Sunday, Feb. 16-18. Mobile opens the tournament on Friday at 11:00 a.m. CT against Rio Grande (Ohio).
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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.
