MOBILE, Ala-- The 25th-ranked University of Mobile softball team took the opener 4-1 over 14th-ranked William Carey University Wednesday to earn a split in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader. William Carey took the finale 2-1.
In the opener, the Lady Rams rode the right arm of Leslie Pickette and took advantage of 4 William Carey errors. Pickette scattered seven hits, while allowing only one run and striking out six in a complete-game effort. Katie McCrary took the loss for William Carey after giving up 3 unearned tallies in 2.1 innings of relief.
Desiree Truett finished 2-4 with 1 RBI at the plate for Mobile, while Korie Fontenot and Jessica Swanson each finished 1-2 with 1 runs scored. Tan Montgomery, Casey Alexander and Judy Barber each collected two hits for the Lady Crusaders.
William Carey took a 1-0 lead in the 1st thanks to a pair of hit-batsmen and a walk, but stranded three. The score stayed that way until the 4th when the Lady Rams tied it up as Jessica Swanson scored on a wild pitch. Fontenot walked and Swanson singled to start the inning, and with one out Nicole Walker singled Swanson over to 3rd to set up the score.
The Lady Rams then won the game with three unearned runs in the 6th. Fontenot and Ally Scott were on 3rd and 2nd with two outs after singling, and then 3rd-baseman Judy Barber booted Jessica Palmer's ground ball to allow two runs to score. Truett capped the inning with a RBI-single.
In the finale, it was Mobile that struggled on defense, with four errors. Melanie Bush picked up the win for William Carey after limiting Mobile to 1 run on 2 hits in a complete-game effort. Kamaron Strickland was the tough-luck loser for Mobile after giving up 1 earned run on 8 hits in 7 innings of work, with 5 k's.
Ally Scott was 1-3 with 1 RBI, while Jessica Palmer was 1-2 for Mobile. Tan Montgomery went 2-4 at the top of the William Carey order.
The Lady Crusaders started the game with single tallies in the 1st and 2nd innings. Montgomery started things off with a bunt single and later came around to score on a Mobile error. With two outs in the 2nd, Shana Gunter doubled, swiped 3rd and scored on an errant throw.
Bush continued to keep the Mobile bats quiet until the 7th inning, when the Lady Rams started a rally. Tess Ackerman drew a one-out, pinch-hit walk, and with two outs Jessica Swanson was hit by a pitch to put two on. Scott singled home pinch-runner Dorlicia Martin, and Swanson and Scott advanced to 2nd and 3rd on the play. But, Bush induced a pop out to end the game.
Mobile (27-14, 7-3) hosts Thomas University Friday at 5 pm for a non-conference doubleheader. William Carey moves to 27-10 and 7-3.