TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Big innings were the difference Friday as Stillman College softball dropped a pair of Southern States Athletic Conference games to the University of Tennessee Southern in the Tigers' first games in two weeks.
Stillman allowed four runs in the four runs in the top of the fifth in Game 1 and five in the top of the first in Game 2 that helped the Firehawks complete the sweep. However, the Tigers did not go down without a fight.
Trailing 6-1, and down to its final two outs in the second game,
Katelyn Lankford hit a solo home run to left field to spark a four-run, seventh-inning rally.
Anniston Jones reached on a two-out error to extend the game, followed by a
Makyleigh Hollinger walk to set up a three-run home run by Tuscaloosa native
Sara Kate Nichols. It was the first home run of the season for the senior during her final weekend home games. The rally continued as
Madison Bubel drew a walk and Bailey Seales doubled to left center, but it bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double, forcing Bubel to return to third instead of scoring the tying run.
Carolyn Carter then ripped a line drive towards right, but UT Southern's Allie Toone lunged to her left to snag the ball in the air for the final out.
Stillman's first run in Game 2 was scored when
Taylor Roland was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third inning to get on the board, 6-1. Both teams left seven on base in the second game, which also saw 18 players enter the box score for Stillman. The TIgers made a mass defensive substitution in the sixth inning, leading to stellar defensive plays by the reserves to hold UTS at bay and set up the seventh-inning rally.
The Tigers' three runs in the first game were scattered across the seven frames.
Lauren Haskins reached on an error to start the bottom of the first and scored an unearned run when
Ivey Moreland reached base to tie the game, 1-1. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on a Karli Davidson RBI single that scored Seales, but UTS answered with its four-run fifth inning and a two-run sixth. Roland singled in a run in the seventh to score Haskins before Kassidy Davis pitched the Firehawks to victory for her ninth win and 13th complete game.
Haskins finished the day 3-for-7 with two runs scored, while Roland, Seales and Lankford each had two hits. The Tigers collected one hit apiece from Bibel, Nichols, Davidson, Jones and
Katelynn Madison.
Lexi McCray (13-1) received her first loss of the season, allowing five runs, three earned, off eight hits and two walks in the first game. She struck out two.
Faith Byram (5-5) recorded the loss in the second game.
Stillman (28-8, 12-8 SSAC) is scheduled to close out its 2024 home schedule on Saturday, April 20 with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Blue Mountain Christian University. Prior to the game, Stillman will honor 11 seniors beginning with a ceremony at noon.
