May 10, 2004

UM wins Region XIII Tournament opener

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Only her second career home run, Christie Jackson hit a game-winning two-run dinger in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the University of Mobile (45-9) to a 3-2 win over North Georgia State University in the first round of the NAIA Region 13 softball tournament being held at Lagoon Park.

Rachel West (2-for-3 with one run scored) hit a deep, ground-ruled double against the center field fence to set up the game-winning moment for Christie Jackson.

While North Georgia’s infield approached the pitcher’s circle to confer with Beth Willis, who nearly gave up a home run to West, the Rams’ third baseman did the same as she walked over from second base to give Jackson some crucial advice.

“Rachel told me it was going in and out and to take it for a ride,” Jackson said. “That’s exactly what I did.”

Mobile got on the board, 1-0, on a Sylvia Bedgood sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth which scored Winter Guthrie.

While Mobile’s Molly Walker robbed North Georgia of a home run by pulling one back from over the left field fence in the top of the second, Lynsey Thompson would not be denied in the top of the sixth as she blasted a two-run shot to give her Saints a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom half of the inning.

The advantage was short-lived.

“This was a huge win,” Coach Becky Clark said. “Every win at this time of the year is a big win. We’re trying to get some confidence going into the national tournament. North Georgia is a very good team. To beat a team like this is a very big win.”

Mobile’s Kirby Baxter (19-4) scattered four hits and gave up only two earned runs in seven innings pitched to pick up the win.

Keri Maxwell, who was charged with loss for North Georgia, combined with Beth Willis to give up five hits, five walks and three earned runs.

Mobile will face nationally top-ranked Thomas University (45-3) Tuesday, at 10 a.m. Thomas defeated Faulkner University 11-0 in their first round match.

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