BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. - The University of Mobile Softball team got back into the win column on Friday afternoon, Apr. 12, defeating Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) in two games across a conference doubleheader on the road. The Friday doubleheader begins a four-game weekend road trip for Mobile, with the Rams entering the weekend sitting in second place in the current SSAC Softball standings.
Following Friday's results, Mobile improves the overall record to 24-11 and 15-5 in the SSAC.
The Basics
Mobile and Blue Mountain played extra innings in game one, which eventually saw the Rams come out on top 7-5 in eight innings. The Rams opened the scoring with a single run in the top of the first inning following an RBI single by Caitlin McRee, while later adding two additional runs across the third and fourth innings. With Mobile leading 3-2 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Toppers put up a three-spot on Mobile starting pitcher Emily Butts and took the lead, 5-3.
However, Mobile responded next half inning with two runs and tied the game, 5-5. From there, the game went to extra innings and saw Mobile add two runs in the top of the eighth inning following a Megan McCartney RBI single and Caitlin McRee sacrifice fly. Avery Harrell then shut down the Blue Mountain bats from the pitcher's circle in the bottom half, sealing the win for Mobile.
Harrell was credited with the victory from the rubber, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings from out of the bullpen. Harrell allowed just two hits and struck out seven in her relief appearance. Offensively, Mobile collected nine hits, led by Megan McCartney with a 3-for-4 line at the plate. Caitlin McRee finished 2-for-4 in game one, with both McRee and McCartney recording two RBIs each. Both teams left nine runners on base in game one, with Blue Mountain recording 11 hits.
Later on Friday, Mobile once again opened the scoring, this time in the top of the second inning. Jill Robinson doubled home the game's first run to give the Rams the lead, with Mobile adding five more runs across the next three innings. Trailing 6-0 in the sixth inning, Blue Mountain's offense sparked against Mobile starting pitcher Brinkley Goff and scored four runs in the inning to cut the deficit to just two runs.
Mobile added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning following and RBI single by Lillie Lanham, and Avery Harrell once against shut the Toppers down in the bottom half of the seventh, tossing a scoreless inning for the game two win and sweep over Blue Mountain. Just a couple of hours after Harrell earned the win from the rubber to open Friday's action, the sophomore earned the save in game two.
At the plate, Caitlin McRee picked up two more hits, joined by Lillie Lanham and Jill Robinson with a pair of hits each. Mobile out-hit the Toppers in game two, 9-8.
Back in Action on Saturday
Mobile heads to Pulaski, Tenn. following Friday's doubleheader with Blue Mountain, facing UT-Southern (Tenn.) for a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE RAMS
For complete coverage of University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams ("X" FKA Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/.
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.
