JACOBS FIELD, MOBILE, Ala. - Coming off a big win to start the 2023 season, the University of Mobile Baseball program hosted Montreat College on Friday afternoon, Feb. 3 at Jacobs Field for a doubleheader, and managed to sweep the Cavaliers in both games played. Mobile opened the 2023 campaign with a upset victory over the fourth-ranked LSU-Shreveport Pilots this past Tuesday, Jan. 31, and seemed to carry momentum to Friday's action with two victories over Montreat College. Friday's doubleheader started a four-game weekend series between Mobile and Montreat, with another doubleheader being scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4.
Game One Recap: Mobile 4, Montreat 2 - 7 Innings
After stranding two runners in the bottom of the first inning to begin game one on Friday, Mobile allowed Montreat to score the game's first run in the top half of the second. Mobile starting pitcher Michael Sikes eventually left the bases full in the second, only allowing the lone Cavalier run to cross home plate. Later with Mobile trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Rams' offense came alive as Trevor Andrews drove a ball to the right field wall for an inside-the-park home run. Andrews' inside-the-park homer is already his second home run of the season in as many games. Following Andrews' equalizing run, Jack Treanor recorded his first triple of the season and later scored following an RBI double by Landon Moore. Mobile took their first lead of the game at 2-1 to the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Montreat managed to get a run back and tie the game at two runs a piece. However, Mobile took advantage of two Montreat errors in the bottom half of the fifth and came away with two more runs. From there, the score held up at 4-2, with Mobile taking the first game of Friday's doubleheader. Mobile newcomer and southpaw Tyler Cruse closed things out on the mound with a four-out save, his first save of the season.
The Rams tallied six hits in the game one win, with the Mobile pitching staff allowing just four hits on Montreat's side. Trevor Andrews had another solid offensive performance for the Rams, finishing 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk. He is coming off a 2-for-4 day at the plate in Mobile's season opener against No. 4 LSU-S, a game where Andrews was tabbed as the winning pitcher with a scoreless eighth inning. Landon Moore joined Andrews in finishing 2-for-2 in Friday's victory, lacing a triple and a double in the process. Moore added a walk and drove in one run. On the mound, Haden Parker earned his first win of the season as Mobile Head Coach Jon Seymour threw four arms in the game.
Game Two Recap: Mobile 8, Montreat 3 - 7 Innings
In game two, the Mobile offense started hot, scoring one run in the bottom of the first inning following an RBI single from Trevor Andrews. In the second, Mobile managed to push across five runs in the inning alone, two coming from a single up the middle by Landon Moore. Moore, along with Andrews, eventually stole home in the inning to give Mobile a six-run lead. Later in the game, Trevor Andrews continued his fantastic start to the 2023 season with a RBI bloop single to right field in the fourth. The Rams eventually scored another run in the fifth to score eight-straight runs to start the game. Montreat was not able to get on the scoreboard until the top of the sixth inning.
Montreat's Jander Morelos finally managed to snap the Mobile scoring streak in the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field. The following inning with Montreat trailing by seven runs, the Cavaliers managed an offensive run with two outs in the final inning of the game. After recording two quick outs in the seventh, Mobile right-hander Will Pruitt loaded the bases with Morelos coming to the plate. Morelos then drove in two runs with a single down the left field line to cut Mobile's lead to five runs. However, Pruitt managed to get the next batter to fly out to center field to end the ballgame.
Four pitchers took the mound in game two, with Landon Montgomery earning his first win of the season. Montgomery pitched two innings of relief, allowing just one run and collecting a strikeout. Jeffrey Griffin was awarded the start by Jon Seymour and finished with a line of 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K. On the offensive side, both Andrews and Moore built off the game one success with both players finishing with three RBIs each in the win. Mobile out-hit Montreat, 8-7.
Doubleheader on Alumni Saturday
With Mobile starting the season 3-0, the Rams will look for a four-game sweep over Montreat tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 4 with another doubleheader against the Cavaliers beginning 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 on Alumni Saturday, 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.
