GULF SHORES, Ala-- The 25th-ranked University of Mobile softball team dropped a pair of games in pool play action at the Gulf Coast Invitational Saturday, falling to Lindsey Wilson 5-0 and dropping a 3-1 decision to Central Methodist University.
Mobile (16-5) will participate in bracket play Sunday with time and opponent to be determined. All games are being played at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
Against Lindsey Wilson, Mobile just could not get the key hit to a run on the board, leaving 10 runners on base. Anyibell Ramirez got the win for the Blue Raiders by fanning 7 Mobile batters in 6 shutout innings. Victoria Buie took the loss for the Lady Rams after giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits in 4 innings.
Mayles Rodriguez and Holli McLeod each went 2-4 out of the top two spots in the lineup, while Jessica Swanson finished 1-1 and reached base three times.
Both pitchers were cruising with 8 combined K's through 2 innings, but the Blue Raiders got to Buie for 4 runs on 4 hits in the 3rd. A 1-out walk and infield single started the rally, while Jamie Williams, Ally Goniea and Emily Priar did the damage with 2-out RBI hits.
Mobile had a chance to answer in the top of the 4th, but left the bases loaded, and went on to leave 2 runners on in each of the final 2 innings.
Game two was much of the same with Danielle Taylor shutting down the Mobile offense, and a 2-out hit proving to be the difference. Taylor limited Mobile to 1 unearned run on 5 hits in a complete game effort.
Mayles Rodriguez went 2-3 at the top of the Mobile lineup, while Hannah Beth Baker reached base twice.
After falling behind 1-0 after 1, the Mobile offense tied it up thanks to a crucial 2-out error from CMU. CMU then went ahead for good in the bottom of the 4th when Briana Ford turned two leadoff walks into a pair of runs with a 2-out, 2-run single.