TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the first time since 2016, Stillman College swept a conference softball doubleheader, taking down Faulkner University, 9-1 and 5-3, on Saturday, April 1. The wins moved Stillman to 26-8 overall and 10-6 in Southern States Athletic Conference for the second-most single-season wins in program history.
Carolyn Carter had five hits on the day to lead Stillman, while
Katelynn Madison and
Katelyn Lankford each had three hits, including a home run apiece.
With the sweep, Stillman wins the season series over Faulkner, 3-1. The last time Stillman College softball won consecutive conference games or a conference series was an April 9, 2016 sweep of Kentucky State University in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
GAME 1: STILLMAN 9, FAULKNER 1
Stillman College won its fifth-straight game with its first conference run-rule victory in the SSAC. It was also the first conference win of the season for pitcher
Lexi McCray (6-5, 1-4 SSAC), who had one earned run off five hits and three walks. She struck out three.
Lauren Haskins wasted little time to score Stillman's first run. After being hit by a pitch to leadoff the first inning, Haskins stole second and took third on a
Katelynn Madison sac bunt. She later scored on a passed ball.
Faulkner's only run came in the top of the second. Colby Adams singled to start the inning and moved to second on a Stooksbur sac bunt before Ivey Hill drove her home with a single to right.
Stillman broke the tie with a four-run bottom of the second inning. The Tigers pieced together six hits in the inning to create margin.
Carolyn Carter singled to start the inning and later scored on a Madison single.
Katelyn Lankford later drove a ball to center that skipped over the fence for a two-run, ground-rule double.
Madison Bubel singled to drive home Lankford for her 29th RBI of the season and a 5-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Haksins beat out her second infield hit of the day before Madison blasted a two-run home run to left field, her first collegiate home run. It was the Tigers' fourth home run of the week. Carter added an RBI single to score Bubel.
Carter led Stillman with a 3-for-4 game at the plate. Haskins, Madison, Lankford and Bebel each had two hits. Mayes,
Bailie Seales and
Anniston Jones each had one hit. Â
Haskins stole three bases on the day, moving her season total to 37 in 29 games.
Katelynn Inness (6-6) had the loss for Faulkner.
GAME 2: STILLMAN 5, FAULKNER 3
A three-run, pinch-hit home run by
Katelyn Lankford in the sixth inning proved to be the difference in Game 2 for Stillman to complete the sweep of Faulkner, 5-3.
Madison Bubel drew a two-out walk and scored on a
Bailie Seales double to left center to give Stillman a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Eagles tied it their next time up, as Mandi Hart triped to drive in an unearned run, scoring Markie Hicks who reached on a two-out error at second base.
The game remained tied until the fourth. After starting pitcher
Faith Byram gave up a pair of singles, Hart singled in the go-ahead run for her second RBI of the day.Â
Elisabeth Boso (4-1) took over in the circle with one out in the top of the fourth and worked out of the jam with a ground ball to short before catching a line drive back to the circle.Â
Lauren Haskins robbed Faulkner's Gracie Pittman of a home run in the top of the fifth inning, catching the ball at the left field fence and falling halfway over while securing the ball for the first out in a one-two-three inning. Stillman was also retired in order in the fifth.Â
Bailie Seales drew a walk to start the bottom of the sixth inning and tied the game on a one-out RBI single to left by
Carolyn Carter.
Savannah Mayes then singled to help set up the Tigers' go-ahead run. Lankford then stood in to pinch hit, teeing off on a three-run home run to left field to give Stillman a 5-2 lead. It was her second home run and 10th RBIs of the week.Â
Anna Purvis added a one-out, solo home run for Faulkner in the top of the seventh off relief pitcher
Abby Shelby, cutting Stillman's lead to 5-3. With two on base and one out,
Jasmine Wade took over in the circle. After walking the first batter faced, Wade struck out Abby Terrell before getting a ground ball to second to secure the Tigers' win. It is Wade's first career save.Â
Brooklyn Pennington and Carter each had two hits to lead the Tigers in the second game. Madison, Seales, Mayes and Lankford each had one hit.
Boso (5-1) was nearly perfect through 2.2 innings of relief work to earn the win. She allowed one walk as her only base runner.Â
NEXT: Stillman (26-8, 10-6 SSAC) will travel to MUW in Columbus, Mississippi on Tuesday, April 4 for its final non-conference doubleheader at 2 p.m. The Tigers will host Blue Mountain Christian University in conference action Friday, April 7 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
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