UM SOFTBALL FIELD | MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Rams faced off against their old rivals, the Spring Hill College Badgers, on Wednesday evening. The Rams and the Badgers battled back and forth throughout the evening with neither side able to find a breakthrough for much of the game. Spring Hill took a one run lead in the fifth inning, but Mobile would eventually put together a comeback in the seventh inning to secure the win.
The Cross Town Rivalry
The battle between these two rival schools found its form in a pitching duel for most of the game. Mobile pitcher Avery Harrell went the full seven innings giving up just 2 hits and 1 run, while striking out 5 batters in the contest. Starting pitcher for the Badgers, L. Turk, went six and two-thirds innings giving up just 3 hits and 1 run. The deadlock on the scoreboard would hold until the fifth inning when a dropped fly ball in left field would allow the Badgers to score a run from third to take the lead. Mobile was unable to answer back in the fifth and sixth innings, meaning it would all fall down to the seventh inning for them to make something happen.
The Rams would find their tying run on base almost instantly with Lillie Lanham able to reach first after an error by the Spring Hill short stop. Madeline Houk would come in to pinch run for Lanham before Katelynn Kempton would fly out to left field. Miah Simmons would ground out to the third baseman on a sacrifice bunt that allowed Houk to reach second base. With two outs on the board and a runner on second base, the fate of the game fell on the shoulders on Madilyn Sheffield. The senior catcher showed no signs of nerves as she stepped into the box and she showcased that by doubling to right center on the first pitch she saw, bringing home Houk from second to tie the game at 1-1. Heather Knowles was up next for Mobile with a similar situation facing her. She would respond to the pressure in the same way as her teammate before her, hitting a single up the middle that would allow Sheffield to sprint home from second and giving Mobile the walk off win against their rivals. The win against Spring Hill is Mobile's fourth this season and secures the season sweep over the Badgers in Softball.
Up Next for the Rams
For Mobile, their next opponent is another big rival as they will travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to face off against the Crusaders of William Carey university in a big conference doubleheader. The two conference rivals find themselves in a battle for fourth place in the conference standings this weekend with a sweep for Mobile giving them the position. Mobile has four more conference doubleheaders to round out the season with the SSAC Championship Tournament scheduled to begin on April 30 in Decatur, Alabama.
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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.
