MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Baseball team returned to Jacobs Field for the first time during the 2022 season and played a total of four games against two opponents on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 5-6. Midway University out of Midway, Ky. and the University of the Cumberlands from Williamsburg, Ky. made the trip to Mobile, Ala. for the three-team weekend tournament at Jacobs Field. A total of six games were played between the three teams with Mobile participating in four. All games were scheduled for seven innings. In the four non-conference games played on Mobile's home field, the Rams secured three wins to improve their young 2022 record to 5-2.
Saturday Recap - Mobile v. (11) Cumberlands (L) | Mobile v. Midway (W)
The University of the Cumberlands and Mobile squared off the begin the weekend tournament on Saturday afternoon. After grabbing the lead 2-0 in the third inning, Mobile then allowed the No. 11 Cumberlands to answer with four of their own runs in the fourth and not allow Mobile to come back. Cumberlands defeated the Rams, 8-3.
The Rams bounced back later Saturday evening, however, as Mobile used a walk-off victory in eight innings to defeat Midway University, 4-3. After Midway scored two runs in the first inning, the Rams answered with three runs across the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead. The Eagles of Midway tied the game in the sixth to eventually force extra innings.
In the bottom of the 8th, Mobile's J.T. Lastorka worked himself on base via a hit-by-pitch to start the inning. From there, the Rams loaded the bases with no outs and Landon Moore managed to drive in the game-winning run from third with a deep single to center field. The Rams ended the night celebrating on the field with their first walk-off victory of the season.
In the win, Lastorka finished 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles and a walk in his first game played as a Ram. He finished as the only Ram with multiple hits in the win. As a team, Mobile was very patient at the dish, working nine walks in the game with Tucker Musgrove, Lex Singleton, and Brett Buck all finishing with three walks each. Musgrove was the starting pitcher in Saturday evening's game, pitching four strong innings while striking out nine batters. At one point, Musgrove struck out eight hitters in a row.
Mobile looked to carry the walk-off victory over to Sunday with two more games on the schedule.
Sunday Recap - Mobile v. Midway (W) | Mobile v. (11) Cumberlands (W)
On Sunday, the Rams battled Midway in the afternoon hours as the Eagles looked for revenge. The bats came out hot for Mobile though as the Rams scored in six of the seven innings played off 11 hits, eventually leading Mobile to another victory over Midway, 8-5.
In the win, Brett Buck blasted a deep two-run home run over the Jacobs Field scoreboard in left field. Buck's homer is his second on the year as he finished with a 1-for-3 line at the plate with his home run and two runs scored. Catcher Christian Waltman joined buck with solid production in the batter's box, recording two doubles from the leadoff spot in the lineup while also working a walk. Waltman drove in two runs.
Kyle White got the nod on the mound and looked great through four innings of work. The second-year southpaw finished allowing just two Midway hits and struck out five. White walked three batters and allowed only one run to cross the plate as he earned his first win of the season.
Later on Sunday night, Mobile looked to earn a victory over the Cumberlands, who rank 11th in the NAIA to start the 2022 season. Entering Sunday evening's game, the Patriots of the Cumberlands put together a 3-0 weekend at Jacobs Field, earning two victories over Midway and one over the Rams on Saturday.
Trailing 1-0 for much of the game, the Rams managed to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth off a sacrifice fly from pinch-hitter Christian Waltman. Mobile later managed to load the bases with one out in the bottom half of the seventh and eventually earned their second walk-off win of the weekend as Trevor Wells smacked a deep opposite field single to drive in the winning run from third. Wells finished 2-for-4 in Sunday night's game against the Cumberlands.
Pitching was great on the mound for Mobile as Ethan McPherson allowed the lone Patriots run to score in the first inning. In his first start with Mobile, McPherson pitched four innings while allowing just three hits and recording four strikeouts. From the bullpen, Stephen Poche', Thomas James, and Haden Parker all pitched scoreless frames, allowing just one combined hit and striking out a combined four batters in the process.
The win over the Cumberlands is the third win of the 2022 season already that Mobile as defeated a ranked opponent. The Rams took two of three games from No. 8 Keiser to begin the 2022 season two weekends ago.
Another Slam-Packed Weekend at Jacobs Field
Similar to the past weekend at Jacobs Field, Mobile will again host three teams for six total games over two days on Feb. 11-12. Non-conference opponents Point University (Ga.) and Campbellsville University (Ky.) are scheduled to travel down to Mobile, Ala. for a busy weekend of baseball.
Mobile is scheduled to play in four of the six games and will battle Point University on Friday, Feb. 11 at 12:00 p.m. CT and later face Campbellsville at 5:00 p.m. CT on the same day. On Saturday, Feb. 12, the Rams will take on Campbellsville at 12:00 p.m. CT and Point at 5:00 p.m. CT.
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.
