MARSHALL, Texas — The Stillman College softball team exploded offensively during an HBCU Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Wiley College Wildcats on Thursday at Smith Park. The Tigers won the opening contest 17-3 and stormed back from down nine runs to win the second game 11-9. 

Game 1 - Stillman 17, Wiley 3

Stillman College (5-16, 3-2 HBCUAC) exploded for 17 runs and 13 hits, including a nine-run seventh inning, to defeat Wiley University 17-3 in Game 1

The Tigers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first inning. Alex Erwin opened the game with a single and eventually scored on Avary Lumpkin's RBI groundout. Moments later, Lily Stone crossed the plate on Katelyn Lankford's RBI single to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead. 

Wiley scratched across a run in the second and another in the third, but Stillman answered with a five-run outburst in the top of the third. Erwin sparked the rally again, scoring on Stone's sacrifice fly. Lumpkin then crossed the plate on Olivia Hobson's sacrifice fly before Anna Sullivan scored on Gracie Fjeldstad's RBI single. Katelyn Lankford and Fjeldstad both came home on Addison Seale's two-run single as the Tigers stretched the lead to 7-1. 

Stillman added another run in the fourth. Erwin walked, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored when Lumpkin reached on a fielder's choice, making it 8-2. 

The Tigers broke the game wide open with a nine-run seventh inning. Makynli Kidd scored first after reaching earlier in the inning and advancing on a defensive miscue. JaLeah Orr, Gracie Fjeldstad, and Addison Seale all crossed the plate on Addison Nuspl's two-RBI single and an outfield error to extend the lead. 

Stillman continued the rally when Alex Erwin scored on Jazlynn Sulton's RBI single. Sulton later scored alongside Anna Sullivan on Sullivan's two-run double. The inning ended with a towering two-run homer from Katelyn Lankford, bringing home Sullivan and pushing the Tigers' lead to 17-3. 

Erwin scored a game-high four runs, while Lankford finished with three RBIs and two hits, including the late home run. Sullivan and Seale each drove in two runs, and Nuspl added two RBIs during the decisive seventh inning rally. 

Wade tossed a complete game, allowing six hits and three runs, none earned, while walking four and striking out two to secure the victory. 

Stillman's offense capitalized on Wiley miscues throughout the game, scoring 17 runs while taking advantage of six defensive errors by the Wildcats.

Game 2 – Stillman 11, Wiley 9

The Tigers exploded for five runs in the fifth inning and six more in the sixth to complete the rally after trailing 9-0 early.
Wiley built a large early lead, scoring six runs in the first inning and adding one in the second and two in the third to move ahead 9-0 before Stillman settled in defensively. 

Stillman finished with 13 hits in the victory. Hobson led the Tigers with three hits and an RBI, while Stone drove in two runs and scored twice. Lumpkin added a key home run and two RBIs during the fifth-inning rally.

The Tigers began their comeback in the fifth inning. Hobson singled to open the frame and later scored when Nuspl ripped an RBI double to left-center. Moments later, Kidd, running for Fjeldstad, crossed the plate on Stone's RBI single that was misplayed in center field, allowing Nuspl to score as well. Stone then came home on Lumpkin's towering home run to right-center, trimming the deficit to 9-5. 

Stillman kept the momentum rolling in the sixth with another big inning. Hobson singled again and eventually scored on Nuspl's RBI groundout to make it 9-6. Fjeldstad then crossed the plate on Erwin's RBI single, and Seale scored when Stone dropped down a bunt single to cut the margin to one. 

The Tigers completed the comeback moments later. Erwin scored on Sullivan's RBI single to tie the game at 9-9 before Stone came home on Lankford's sacrifice fly to give Stillman its first lead of the day. Lumpkin later crossed the plate on Hobson's RBI single, extending the advantage to 11-9. 

Stillman threatened again in the seventh when Erwin tripled down the left-field line, but the Tigers were unable to add insurance. Wiley had a chance to win in the seventh, but recorded three straight outs with the bases loaded. 

After Wiley's early surge, Michaela Otts (1-0)  stabilized the game in relief, working 5.1 innings while allowing three runs to earn the win. Karli Crocker (1) pitched the final inning to secure the save and seal the comeback victory. Faith Byram went 0.2 innings in the start.

Up Next:

Stillman and Wiley conclude the HBCUAC series tomorrow, starting at 11 a.m.