WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The University of Mobile Baseball team began the 2022 season in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Jan. 28-29 with a three-game series against the eighth-ranked Keiser Seahawks. Despite dropping game one of the series, the Rams bounced back in the final two games to win the series over Keiser and start the season on a high note.
Game One - KU 9, MOB 7
On Friday morning, Jan. 28, Mobile and Keiser met for the first time in baseball history to start the 2022 NAIA Baseball season. Bailey Sellers got the start for Mobile and pitched three innings while giving up just two runs. Sellers struck out four batters.
The Rams managed to out-hit the Seahawks 14-8, but allowed four Seahawks to come across the plate in the seventh inning to fall behind. Down five runs, Mobile answered with three runs in the top of the eighth inning, but Keiser was able to shut the door and take the series-opening win.
In the loss, Brett Buck hit the first Mobile home run of the season, a deep shot to left-center field. Buck finished 2-5 with a homer and two runs-batted-in in the loss. Tucker Musgrove joined Buck in collecting two hits and a home run in game one while working a walk. Musgrove's homer was a deep drive to right-center. Joining Buck and Musgrove with notable lines on Friday morning was Trevor Wells. Wells finished 3-4 at the plate, driving in one and worked a base-on-balls.
Game Two - MOB 2, KU 1 (7 Innings)
In the seven-inning game two later on Friday afternoon, pitching was great for both teams as only three combined runs came across the plate for both teams with the first run not scoring until the sixth inning. Mobile third basemen Lex Singleton drove a two-run double to the gap to get the scoring started for the Rams as Tucker Musgrove started the game on the mound and pitched three scorless innings for Mobile while collecting five strikeouts.
After Keiser answered Mobile with one run in the bottom of the sixth, Caleb Coffey managed to shut the door for Mobile, earning his first save on the season and the Rams' first victory of the year. Coffey pitched two innings of relief in the win and pitched out of a no-out bases-loaded jam in the final inning.
Stephen Poche', who has battled injuries in his first two years as a Ram, made his collegiate debut on the mound in game two and earned the win in the debut. Poche' finished pitching two innings and struck out two batters.
Game Three - MOB 7, KU 6
The following day, Mobile and Keiser were set for the rubber game of the three-game series. Due to staffing issues, Mobile was awarded the home team on the scoreboard in the series finale. Keiser got the scoring started in the top of the first inning by blasting a lead-off home run off Mobile starter Kyle White, but White settled down and pitched three innings while recording three strikeouts.
Mobile pushed across four runs across the second and third innings, taking the lead, 4-1. The Rams later scored another run in the fifth inning to extend the lead. However, Keiser scored five runs across the sixth and seventh innings and regained the lead over the Rams.
The Mobile dugout did not lose confidence, however, and scored two runs off Blake Roberts' two-run double to put the Rams ahead yet again in the eighth inning. Roberts finished with three RBIs off two doubles on Saturday. Trevor Wells moved from left field to the pitcher's mound in the final two innings to earn hist first win on the mound this year. Wells also managed to blast a two-run homer in the victory.
Overall, the Rams head home to Mobile, Ala. with a happy bus ride after beginning the season 2-1 and defeating No. 8 Keiser in a series on their home field. The Rams are set to open up their home portion of the schedule next Friday, Feb. 4 with two games. Mobile will host Cumberlands University and Midway University in a three-team tournament that is scheduled for Feb. 4-5.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
