TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Stillman College recorded another NAIA Top 25 victory Thursday, defeating No. 21 William Carey University, 2-1, in the first game of a Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Tigers fell in the second game, 3-1, to move to 21-3 on the season and 5-3 in SSAC action. 

Ivey Moreland, Karli Davidson, Madison Bubel and Bailie Seales each had two hits on the day for Stillman. 

The week's results with doubleheader splits over No. 13 Mobile and No. 21 William Carey keep the two Top 25 teams tied atop the SSAC standings at 6-2 with Faulkner University sitting at 4-2, followed by Stillman and Middle Georgia at 5-3. 


GAME 1: STILLMAN 1, No. 21 WILLIAM CAREY 1
 

Lauren Haskins used her speed to produce Stillman's first run. The senior left fielder from Alabaster, Alabama laid down a bunt single to start the bottom of the first inning. Kaitlyn Madison followed with a sacrifice bunt. Haskins took off for second on the pitch and quickly rounded the bag and strolled into third before Madison could be thrown out at first base. Haskins then raced home on an Ivey Moreland sacrifice fly to right field for the 1-0 lead. 

A pair of two-out walks in the top of the third inning put two runners on for the Crusaders to set up a Dee Dee West RBI double to left field to tie the game, 1-1, on WCU's first hit of the game. Defensive plays from both teams in the outfield kept the score 1-1 through the top of the of the sixth inning, including a lineout to Haskins in left to end the third inning and a 6-4-3 double play turned by Bailie Seales and Madison in the top of the sixth. 

Madison Bubel collected a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth before Carolyn Carter delivered a two-out single down the left field to place runners on first and second. Karli Davidson delivered the eventual winning hit with a bloop single into right field between three fielders, allowing Bubel to score from second. 

Lexi McCray (9-0) collected her sixths complete game victory of the season, and ninth overall win, when she retired the Crusaders in order in the seventh. She allowed one earned run off three hits and three walks. Her only strikeout was on the final out of the game to secure her second Top 25 victory in as many days.

Stillman had six individual hits against WCU's Ryanne Hornsby (6-4) and scored two earned runs.

WCU took an early 1-0 lead when Brooke Tanner reached on an error to start the game. In similar fashion to Lauren Haskins in game one, Tanner used her speed to create the first run. After stealing second, Tanner moved to third on a ground out and slid home safely to beat the tag on a fielder's choice. 

Ivey Moreland delivered a two-out Stillman single to center in the bottom of the first, but Kate Schroeder (8-3) retired the next 10 Tiger batters in order. Faith Byram (4-3) gave up a one-out walk and Carley Kidder RBI single in the top of the fifth, followed by Dee Dee West's second double of the day that put two in scoring position. Susie LeBert collected a sac fly to extend the Crusaders' lead, 3-0, before Lexi McCray closed the inning in relief.

The WCU insurances runs woke Stillman's bats in the bottom of the fifth. Bailie Seales singled, followed by walks from Carolyn Carter and Karli Davidson to load the bases. a sacrifice foul out down the left field line by Anniston Jones allowed Seales to score, but another pop foul to left and a lineout to center by Haskins left two runners stranded and WCU's lead at 3-1. 

The Tigers left one runner on in the sixth and two in scoring position in the seventh. Davidson and Katelynn Lankford singled with one out in the seventh and moved to third on a ground out to third that beat Sara Kate Nichols by inches. However, with two on and two out, WCU reliver Ryanne Hornsby managed to get a pop up by Haskins to end the game to earn her first save of the season.    

Stillman had five hits in the second game, each from separate batters. 

Byram pitched 4.1 innings in the loss, allowing two earned runs, three total, off four hits and four walks. McCray pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, giving her five hits allowed and only one run through 9.2 innings on the day. 

 

NEXT: After playing eight conference games in six days due to schedule changes, Stillman is now scheduled to have a seven-day break before it travels to Brewton-Parker College and Middle Georgia State University on March 22-23. Brewton-Parker and Middle Georgia split a SSAC doubleheader on Thursday.