| DECATUR, Ala. – For the first time in program history, the Stillman College softball team has won a postseason tournament as the Tigers defeated the Dillard University Bleu Devils 10-3 to win the HBCU Athletic Conference Championship Friday afternoon at Wilson Morgan Park. Stillman completes a dominant 18-0 season against HBCUAC competition and has the conference’s automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Stillman took an early lead for the first time all tournament with HBCUAC Player of the Year Lauren Haskins scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first. The Tigers broke the game open in the bottom of the third, starting with a single to left field by Carolyn Carter to knock in Lily Stone. Katelyn Lankford drew a bases-loaded walk to allow Avary Lumpkin to trot in from third. Karli Davidson cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to left center as Lankford, Carter and Madison Bubel all scored. Makyleigh Hollinger finished the inning to move the score to 7-0 with a single to score Ariana Lopez. Dillard responded with two runs in the top of the fourth and another in the top of the fifth to close the gap to 7-3. In the bottom of the sixth, Lumpkin doubled to right center to bring Stone home. Anna Sullivan followed with a single to left center as Molly Neal touched home plate. Alex Erwin reached on a fielding error as Carter scored to move the score to 10-3, which held as the final score. Davidson led the way at the plate with three RBIs and a double on 2-for-3 hitting. Lumpkin turned in a 2-for-4 effort with two doubles and an RBI. HBCUAC Pitcher of the Year Jasmine Wade (13-4) pitched a complete game working all seven innings with a strikeout and just four hits allowed. Stillman College softball (33-11) will now wait until May 7 for the NAIA Selection Show to find out who the Tigers will face in the NAIA Tournament and the site for the games. Last season, Stillman advanced to its first NAIA Tournament and became the first HBCU to ever win a game in the NAIA Tournament, going 2-2 during the NAIA Opening Round. |
| ABOUT STILLMAN COLLEGE Stillman College, an accredited, four-year liberal arts institution in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs and is committed to providing a transformative educational experience. A historically black college and university (HBCU) founded in 1876 by the Presbyterian Church, Stillman has a rich history of educating students from various backgrounds and promoting academic excellence. The college is dedicated to developing critical thinkers and leaders who will make significant contributions to their communities. For more information about Stillman College, visit www.stillman.edu. |