DAPHNE, Ala. – It was a day of highs and lows for the Stillman College softball team as the Tigers won the opener 8-4 to clinch a third straight 30-win season, but dropped the second game 11-10 to end the season with a loss to the United States Sports Academy Eagles Thursday afternoon. 

GAME ONE – Stillman 8, USSA 4

USSA took a three-run lead early, with the runs coming in the bottom of the first. 

Stillman responded with a four-run third to take the lead, starting with a sacrifice fly for Katelyn Lankford to help Carolyn Carter tag from third. Anna Sullivan grabbed an RBI on a ground out to help Karli Davidson score. Lauren Haskins singled on a bunt as Alex Erwin scored. Lily Stone capped the rally with a hit to left field to knock in Haskins. 

The Eagles tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the second to finish scoring in game one for USSA.

In the fourth, Haskins drove in Erein on a single to left field. Stone followed with an RBI bunt for Haskins to score. Carter then singled to centerfield for a Stone score. 

Stone wrapped scoring in the sixth with a bunt single to get Haskins home for the 8-4 final. 

Haskins finished the first game 3-for-3 with five stolen bases, three runs and two RBIs. Stone posted a 3-for-4 effort with three RBIs. Davidson smashed a double, while Carter and Erwin finished with a stolen base each. 

Jasmine Wade earned the win, pitching four innings of relief with a strikeout. Avary Lumpkin threw three innings and scattered four hits. 

GAME TWO – USSA 11, Stillman 10

The second game of the day featured plenty of early action. The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the first, starting with Stone reaching on an error and Haskins coming around to score. Lumpkin doubled to centerfield for a Stone score. Carter wrapped the top half of the inning with a single up the middle to bring in Lumpkin.

Despite the large top half of the inning, USSA posted nine runs in the bottom half to take a commanding 9-3 lead. 

However, Stillman got it all back at the top of the second, starting with a Lumpkin double to right field to bring in Gracie Fjeldstad, Haskins and Stone. Carter later reached on an error and helped Lumpkin score. Erwin then smashed a triple to centerfield for Carter and Lumpkin to come home and tie the game 9-9. 

Then in the third, Lumpkin hit a sacrifice fly to right field for Haskins to tag up and score and give the Tigers a 10-9 lead. 

Unfortunately, USSA scored two runs on a hit by Jaci Hager to left field, lifting the Eagles to an 11-10 victory to close the Tigers' season. 

Haskins finished 4-for-5 with three steals and three runs scored. Lumpkin posted five RBIs and two doubles on 2-for-4 hitting. Erwin went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple. 

Wade pitched 6.1 innings in relief and took the loss after posting a strikeout. Mackenzie Smith started the game and allowed five hits. Faith Byram appeared in relief and surrendered a pair of hits. 

With the regular season over, Stillman College will focus on the HBCU Athletic Conference Softball Championship in Decatur, Alabama, at Wilson Morgan Complex on April 22-25.