GULF SHORES, Ala. - The University of Mobile Softball program welcomed close to 30 NAIA teams to lower Alabama over the weekend for the annual Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala., with each team playing at least two games in the tournament from Mar. 2-3. Originally, the tournament schedule was set for three days, beginning on Friday, Mar. 1, but rained forced officials to reschedule all Friday games to Saturday and Sunday. For Mobile, the team participated in just two games during the weekend tourney, while two games were canceled altogether.
The 12th-ranked Rams faced two additional ranked teams during the weekend, opening play against No. 3 Cumberlands (Ky.) on Saturday afternoon and shutting out the Patriots, 3-0. Following the big win against the Cumberlands, Mobile battled No. 22 Southeastern (Fla.) and defeated the Fire, 3-2.
Rams Finish 2-0 at GCI
Mobile's 3-0 win over the Cumberlands comes on the heels of a tough extra inning loss at home to No. 6 Science & Arts of Oklahoma on Thursday, Feb. 29. The Rams responded to the earlier loss with a shutout over the third-ranked team in the nation two days later, allowing just three hits and seven base runners. Mobile starting pitcher Emily Butts was on cruise control from the circle, recording the complete game shutout on 90 pitches, picking up one strikeout and two walks. Her offense relied on the three-run fourth inning to be the difference maker.
Madilyn Sheffield continued her strong start to the 2024 season, driving in two runs with a triple down the left field line to open the scoring. Freshman Miah Simmons then followed in just her third game played on the year with a sacrifice fly to extend Mobile's lead to three runs. From there, the score held up as the Rams knocked off the Cumberlands, while out-hitting the opposition, 6-3. Both Kristen Black and Lillie Lanham paced the Mobile offense with two hits each.
Following the victory, Mobile stayed on the field and took on the Fire of Southeastern. Sheffield once again opened the scoring for Mobile, recording a double to left field in the bottom of the first inning to score Caitlin McRee. One inning later, the Rams added to the early lead with an additional run following a short sacrifice fly to left field from Breanna Green. Up 2-0 entering the third, Southeastern managed an RBI single to cut the deficit to just one run.
Later, Mobile mustered a very important insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Erin Degruise drove a one-out single to center field with the bases loaded. The add-on run proved important due to the Fire pushing across a run and loading the bases with no outs in the seventh and final inning. Mobile Head Coach Alison Sellers-Cook went to her bullpen and brought in sophomore Avery Harrell to close things out. Harrell then produced a strikeout, ground out, and pop up to end the game and earn her second save of the season. Starting pitcher Brinkley Goff improved to 4-0 from the rubber this season, striking out four.
Both teams recorded seven hits in the 3-2 victory for the Rams, with Madilyn Sheffield leading the charge with a 2-for-3 game. Through 13 games played this season, Sheffield is leading Mobile in hitting (.400), on-base percentage (.450), slug (.750), hits (16), home runs (2), and RBI (12).
Mobile Hosts Non-Conference Team
The Rams return to action at home on Wednesday, Mar. 6 with an afternoon doubleheader against Morningside University (Ia.), scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT at the UM Softball Field.
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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.
