TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Stillman College softball team's offense erupted early in the first game, and its pitching stayed in control throughout the twin bill as the Tigers split a doubleheader with the Rust College Lady Bearcats on Saturday in HBCU Athletic Conference action at the Stillman Softball Complex, winning the opener 10-1 before taking the nightcap 6-0.

Game 1 - Stillman 10, Rust 1 - 5 innings

In the first game, Stillman wasted no time manufacturing a run as Avary Lumpkin reached and later scored in the opening frame, coming home on an error after Anna Sullivan put the ball in play to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Stillman broke the game open in the second with an eight-run surge. Gracie Fjeldstad started the rally with a single, and Addison Seale followed with a walk before Addison Nuspl delivered an RBI single. Alex Erwin then reached on an error, allowing Seale to score, and continued to wreak havoc on the bases. Fjeldstad later scored on a wild pitch, Erwin crossed on a sacrifice fly from Lumpkin, and Sullivan added an RBI double. The Tigers continued to pressure Rust defensively, with multiple runs scoring on errors and aggressive advancement, including an RBI single from Olivia Hobson and a two-run double by Fjeldstad to cap the inning at 9-0.

Rust scratched across a run in the third, but Stillman answered immediately as Lily Stone came around to score on Sullivan's RBI single, extending the lead to 10-1.

In the circle, Karli Crocker delivered a steady performance, allowing just two hits and one run over five innings while striking out five to secure the run-rule victory.

Game 2 - Stillman 6, Rust 0 

The second game saw the Tigers strike early again. In the first, Lumpkin ripped an RBI double to score Stone, then later scored herself on a passed ball as Stillman took a 2-0 lead.

Stillman added on in the second through disciplined at-bats and opportunistic baserunning. Seale reached and advanced to third before scoring on a passed ball. Stone followed with an RBI single to bring home Nuspl, pushing the lead to 4-0.

The Tigers threatened again in the third but were held off the scoreboard before adding insurance late. In the sixth, Nuspl singled and later scored on an RBI single from Makynli Kidd. Kidd then came around to score on Lumpkin's RBI double to extend the lead to 6-0.

Michaela Otts dominated in the circle in the contest, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just five hits while striking out three and working out of scattered traffic.

Up Next:

The Tigers and Lady Bearcats wrap the HBCUAC series tomorrow at 11 a.m.