JACOBS FIELD, MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Baseball program, led by fourth-year head coach Jon Seymour, opened the 2023 season at Jacobs Field on Tuesday evening, Jan. 31 and came away with an impressive victory over the fourth-ranked Pilots of LSU-Shreveport, 8-7. LSU-Shreveport begins the 2023 campaign ranked No. 4 in the 2023 NAIA Baseball Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll, advancing to the final four of last season's NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, while finishing with a 53-8 overall record. With LSU-S returning the majority of last year's roster, there was little to zero intimidation on Mobile's side as the Rams came up with a big upset win in front of the home faithful to begin the year.
Starting and Ending with the Long Ball
After a scoreless top half of the first inning was pitched by Mobile newcomer Michael Sikes, Tucker Musgrove started the bottom half of the first with a towering opposite field homer on just the second pitch seen. However, LSU-S managed to answer back with a two-run third inning, but Mobile slammed their way back into the lead a half inning later.
Starting right fielder Trevor Andrews, another newcomer for Mobile, was given the green light on a 3-1 count with the bases full and blasted a grand slam to center field to put the Rams back out front 5-2 in the third. LSU-S managed a solo shot of their own to get a run back in the fourth, but the Rams added on with two more runs in the bottom half. Entering the back half of the game, Mobile led, 7-3.
The Pilots of LSU-S finally managed an offensive run in the middle innings, putting together a four-run fifth inning to eventually tie the game. With the game tied 7-7, pitching on both sides notched two scoreless frames in a row until the eighth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, senior Trevor Wells smacked a go-ahead solo home run to put Mobile back out front. Mobile Head Coach Jon Seymour then turned to Tucker Musgrove, starting center fielder who is also listed as a pitcher, to close things out in the ninth on the mound, which he managed to record a 1-2-3 inning to seal the upset victory and claim his first save of the year. After moving from right field to the pitcher's mound in the top of the eighth, Trevor Andrews was tabbed as the winning pitcher.
Throughout Tuesday's game, Andrews finished 2-for-4 at the plate, tallying four RBIs off his grand slam in the third. Andrews pitched a 1-2-3 scoreless eighth, working two ground outs and one fly out on just 13 pitches. Tucker Musgrove notched three hits in the win, finishing with a line of 3-for-4, HR (1), RBI, 3 Rs. Musgrove struck out one batter in his scoreless ninth inning of work on the mound.
As a team, the Rams tallied 11 hits and was clean on the defensive side, committing no errors. The Mobile pitching staff combined for seven earned runs in nine innings of work and allowed 12 LSU-S hits. A total of 10 pitchers took the mound on both sides on Tuesday.
Alumni Weekend Ahead
A massive win over No. 4 LSU-S to start the year puts momentum on Mobile's side ahead of a busy weekend this upcoming weekend at Jacobs Field. Mobile will host Montreat College this weekend, Feb. 3-4 for a four-game series, with doubleheaders scheduled for both Friday and Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m. CT.
On Saturday, the UM Baseball program welcomes back past Rams for Alumni Saturday at Jacobs Field. For more information, click here.
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.
