MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Baseball team returned home to Jacobs Field on Mar. 19-20 for a three-game series against SSAC rival William Carey University. The Crusaders of William Carey entered the weekend series ranked No. 19 in the latest NAIA Baseball Top 25 Coaches' poll and looked to take advantage of a struggling Mobile team. Entering the weekend, the Rams have dropped three-straight games and lost seven of the last eight played. However, Mobile managed two wins over the Crusaders, claiming the team's first conference series of the season.
Game One Recap (Sat.) - (19) William Carey 9, Mobile 5
After the conference series was moved back one day due to severe weather in the Mobile, Ala. on Friday, Mar. 18, game one of the series was a seven-inning game scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Mar. 19. The Crusaders scored the first three runs of the game across the second and third innings and added on with three more runs in the fifth. Trailing 6-0, Mobile finally got on the scoreboard with a five-run fifth inning to cut the deficit to just one run. However, William Carey answered Mobile's big offensive inning with a three-run sixth inning to extend the lead, 9-5. From there, William Carey held the lead and took game one.
In the loss, Kyle White dropped to 1-3 from the mound this season and finished with a line of 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB. Center fielder Tucker Musgrove got the Rams on the scoreboard in the fifth inning with a solo home run to left center field. Musgrove's homer was his third this year.
Following the solo shot, the Rams managed to load the bases for Samuel Plash who drove a deep bases-clearing triple to right field. Plash now sits second on the team with 20 runs driven in this season as he and Musgrove finished with two hits in the game. Sam Bowman followed Plash's big hit with a RBI single to left field for Mobile's fifth and final run of the game.
Game Two Recap (Sat.) - Mobile 4, (19) William Carey 3 / 10 Innings
In the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, the Crusaders once again scored the first three runs of the game in the fourth inning. A consistent strike zone proved to be costly for Mobile starting pitcher Stephen Poche' as he was pulled in the fourth after allowing the three William Carey runs. Bailey Sellers came in from the bullpen for the Rams and dominated for the remainder of the game, allowing just two Crusader hits.
Mobile answered William Carey's three runs in the fourth with one run in the bottom half following an RBI groundout from J.T. Lastorka. Later in the game, Trevor Wells blasted a no-doubt homer to left field to tie the ballgame in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wells' game-tying home run is his sixth on the year. From there, the game went to extra innings where Wells worked a bases-loaded walk to earn Mobile's fifth walk-off win of the season.
Wells finished 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI and working two walks. Leadoff hitter Dalton Rone led Mobile with three hits, finishing 3-for-5 at the dish and scoring one run.
From the mound, Bailey Sellers pitched six innings of relief work for the Rams, allowing only two hits and striking out five batters. Sellers earned his first win from the mound this year in game two's win.
Game Three Recap (Sun.) - Mobile 5, (19) William Carey 4
In the rubber match and the series finale on Sunday afternoon, Mar. 20, William Carey pushed across four runs in the top of the first to start the game off with a bang. J.T. Lastorka put Mobile on the scoreboard one inning later with his first collegiate home run as a Ram. Lastorka's homer was a two-run shot to deep right center field that cut the Crusader deficit in half. Later, Brett Buck tied the game in the fourth inning with a two-run home run, his fourth on the year. From there, both teams remained tied at four runs a piece until the final inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Trevor Wells started the inning off with an infield single. Dalton Rone later walked in the inning and a balk by the William Carey pitcher advanced Wells and Rone to second and third with just one out on the board. With the winning run 90 feet away, Trent Avery drove a deep single to left center field to give Mobile the walk-off win and the series victory over the No. 19 team in the nation. Mobile's walk-off on Sunday is the sixth walk-off win this season.
Thomas James was outstanding on the mound, pitching 5.2 innings of relief work for the Rams. James did not allow a hit and struck out five batters. Hunter Evans was awarded his first collegiate win on the mound after pitching a scoreless ninth inning for Mobile. After William Carey scored four runs in the first inning, the Mobile bullpen held the Crusaders scoreless for eight-straight innings.
At the plate, Trevor Wells and Brett Buck both collected two hits with Wells finishing 2-for-4 with a double and Buck finishing 2-for-4 with a two-run homer (4). Trent Avery led all Rams with three hits in the game, including the game-winner.
Following the series win over William Carey this weekend, Mobile Head Coach Jon Seymour raved about his team and was very proud of the way the Rams played. Mobile improved the 2022 overall record to 12-11 on the year and moved to 3-6 in SSAC action.
The Rams hit the road to New Orleans, La. next weekend for a tough three-game series against a talented Loyola (La.) team, the defending SSAC Baseball Champions. Game one of the conference series in the New Orleans is scheduled for Friday, Mar. 25 at 6:00 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 information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
