May 11, 2004

UM falls to Thomas University 4-0 in Region XIII Tournament Championship Game

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The University of Mobile (46-11) fell to Thomas University 4-0 in the championship game of the NAIA Region 13 softball tournament held at Lagoon Park in Montgomery, Alabama. After losing to Thomas University (46-3) 2-1 earlier in the day, the University of Mobile defeated Spring Hill College 13-2 to advance to the championship game to again play Thomas.

The Nighthawks of Thomas, who received an automatic bid to the National Tournament in Decatur, Ala., did most of their damage in the top of the first inning as Victoria Masters sent a three-run home run over the left field fence.

Tania Black drove in Nicole Criste in the top of the seventh to finish off the season series sweep of Mobile.

Kirby Baxter (20-5) who only pitched in the first inning picked up the loss. Freshman Linden Jones pitched six innings in relief to surrender only four hits and one earned run.

In the first game, despite loading the bases in both the fifth and sixth inning, Mobile couldn’t squeeze more than one run through in their attempt to take down Thomas University.

The Nighthawks scored both runs in the bottom of the third inning as Stephanie Dixon ripped an RBI double to score Tania Black. Jennifer Byrd would also score, on a Rachel West error.

Christie Jackson, who homered to lift Mobile to a 3-2 first round win against North Georgia, drove in Denisse Fuenmayor in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly for the Rams’ only run.

Linden Jones, who picks up only her second loss of the season, pitched five tough innings, giving up only one earned run, walking three batters while striking out four.

Jones’ counterpart, Cathy Andrijaszyn, scattered four hits while striking out 11 for the win.

Mobile followed up the close morning loss to Thomas with a 13-2 drubbing of Spring Hill as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first, six in the bottom of the second and five in the bottom of the third to advance to the championship game against Thomas.

Rachel West (2-for-2 with four RBIs and one run scored), Stephanie Landrum (2-for-3 with one RBI) and Meredith Tanner (1-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI) all chipped in to help lead the Rams.

Kirby Baxter (20-4) and Ann McLean combined for seven hits and one earned run against the Badgers.

Mobile will now await an announcement to find out if they will receive an at-large bid to the national tournament.  The Rams were ranked fourth in the final NAIA Top 25 Regular Season Poll.

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