UM SOFTBALL FIELD | MOBILE, Ala. - In what could be considered the most meaningful doubleheader of the 2024 season thus far, the University of Mobile Softball team fell in both games played to conference rival William Carey University (Miss.) on Tuesday evening, Apr. 23, dropping from atop the current SSAC Softballs standings in the process.
Tuesday's matchup featuring the two conference rivals saw the top two teams in the conference standings face one another, with No. 15 Mobile entering with a one game lead over the 18th-ranked Crusaders. After splitting a doubleheader earlier in the season in Hattiesburg, Miss., William Carey managed a 5-4 victory in Tuesday's first game to tie Mobile in the standings. Later that night, William Carey earned a 3-2 win in eight innings to sweep the Rams and move into sole possession of first place in the SSAC.
The two losses drops Mobile's overall record to 28-13, while seeing the SSAC record fall to 17-7.
How It Happened
William Carey set the tone of the doubleheader by scoring two early runs in the the first inning of game one. Mobile then answered back in the bottom of the second with two runs as Gracie Vanderford recorded an RBI knock and Jill Robinson produced an RBI double in the inning. Tied 2-2, the Crusaders reclaimed the lead with single runs in both the third and fourth innings, taking a 4-2 lead to latter part of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mobile scratched off a run following an RBI fielder's choice by Jill Robinson. With already two runs driven in, Robinson came up to the plate in the sixth trailing by one and drove a deep ball down the left field line for the game-tying home run. Robinson's clutch homer is her third long ball of the year and her first at home. However, confidence seemed to stay in the visitor's dugout on Tuesday as William Carey recorded a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the seventh, eventually leading the Crusaders to the 5-4 win.
Jill Robinson finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs at the plate, while both Gracie Vanderford and Lillie Lanham joined with a pair of hits each in the loss. In the pitchers' circle, Avery Harrell tossed 4 1/3 innings of relief work from out of the bullpen, allowing two earned runs and tallying five strikeouts. Starting pitcher Emily Butts pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run and two unearned runs, while giving up six hits. In total, William Carey out-hit Mobile 13-10 in Tuesday's first game.
Later that evening, William Carey began game two in similar fashion, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Mobile was then held scoreless through the first four frames of game two before Jill Robinson worked a bases-loaded walk to put the Rams on the board in the fifth. The very next inning, Mobile tied the game with two outs following a costly error committed by the William Carey shortstop. Game two eventually went to extra innings tied, 2-2.
In extras, William Carey pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth following a two-out RBI single. From there, William Carey starting pitcher Ryanne Hornsby finished her second complete game of the day against Mobile by working a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to earn the sweep over the Rams. Hornsby finished with two wins in the circle against the 15th-ranked team in the NAIA, tossing over 240 pitches across 15 innings of work.
For Mobile, Erin Degruise led the team with a 3-for-4 batting line, while Caitlin McRee finished 2-for-4 at the dish. Jill Robinson finished with Mobile's lone RBI, giving her four total across the two losses. The Rams out-hit William Carey 8-6 and left 10 runners on base. On the rubber, Brinkley Goff pitched all eight innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs. She struck out three Crusaders.
Final Doubleheader of Regular Season
Mobile is scheduled to return to action on Friday afternoon, Apr. 26 at 3:00 p.m. CT, hosting Stillman College (Ala.) for a doubleheader at the UM Softball Field. Friday's two games are the final games of the 2024 regular season schedule, with Senior Day festivities being held pregame.
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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.
