JACOBS FIELD, MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Baseball team continued their hot start to the 2023 season over the weekend, opening conference play with a three-game series on Mar. 3-4 at Jacobs Field against Middle Georgia State University and winning all three games played. The sweep for the Rams is the fourth sweep at home this season, improving the overall home record to 15-0 on the young season. Overall, Mobile moves to 17-2 on the year, making a case for votes in the next NAIA Baseball Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
On Friday, Mar. 3, the Rams began SSAC action with a doubleheader against the Knights of Middle Georgia State, taking game one in seven innings, 4-1. In the nightcap later that evening, offense was strong on both sides, but saw Mobile come away with a 16-9 win. In the series finale on Saturday afternoon, Mar. 4, it was all Mobile as the Rams earned a run-rule victory over Middle Georgia State, defeating the Knights 12-2 in seven innings and beginning conference action 3-0.
Prior to Mobile's three-game sweep over the Knights, the Rams had lost four-straight to Middle Georgia State dating back to the 2021 season.
Game One Highlights - Mobile 4, Middle Georgia State 1 (7 Innings)
- Mobile out-hit the Knights in game one of the series, 9-4, with Mobile starting pitcher Michael Sikes throwing 4 2/3 innings of work.
- Catcher Jackson Breal got the scoring started for Mobile in the first inning, cranking a two-run home run (2) to left field.
- Later in the first, Trevor Wells drove in an add-on run with a double off the center field wall, putting Mobile up 3-0 after one completed inning.
- The Rams tallied their fourth and final run of the game in the third inning with a successful double steal attept, with courtesy runner Kline Smith stealing home.
- Middle Georgia State's lone run came in the fourth with a double off Sikes.
- Landon Moore, starting second baseman for the Rams, moved to the mound in the fifth and closed out the game with a seven-out save across the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.
- Tucker Musgrove, Trevor Andrews, and Sean Mason led Mobile offensively with two hits each in the victory.
Game Two Highlights - Mobile 16, Middle Georgia State 9
- Middle Georgia State's offense started game two strong, scoring four runs off 13 pitches in the top of the first inning.
- Mobile eventually answered with a pair of runs in both the bottom half of the first and second innings, tying the game at four runs a piece.
- In the top of the third inning, the Knights reclaimed the lead with a single run, going up 5-4 in the middle innings.
- Mobile's bats later caught fire in the bottom of the fourth inning, tallying a five-run fourth, with Trevor Andrews blasting his third grand slam of the season.
- The Rams then followed the five-run fourth with a four-run fifth inning, with two runs being scored on a Trevor Wells double.
- Despite Middle Georgia State tallying three runs across the fifth and sixth innings, Mobile added three insurance runs in the seventh to eventually win the game, 16-9.
- Mobile out-hit the Knights 18-13, with Jackson Breal finishing 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.
- Four Rams tallied two hits each in the big win, with Trevor Andrews and Trevor Wells leading the team with four RBIs a piece.
- Reliever Tyler Cruse earned his second win of the season on the mound, pitching 3 1/3 innings and picking up five strikeouts from out of the bullpen.
Game Three Highlights - Mobile 12, Middle Georgia State 2 (7 Innings)
- Similar to game two of the series, the Knights got the scoring started with one run in the top of the first inning.
- Mobile then answered Middle Georgia State's lone run with a two-run bottom of the first.
- From there, the Rams' offense stayed consistent, scoring at least one run in every inning besides the fourth.
- For Middle Georgia State, offense was hard to come by as the Knights finished the game with just three hits.
- Mobile starter Jeffrey Griffin picked up the win, throwing five innings and striking out two. Haden Parker closed the game with two no-hit innings against the Knights.
- On the offensive side, Trevor Andrews blasted his team-leading 10th home run of the year, and continues to lead the SSAC Conference with 40 RBIs to his name. Andrews is hitting north of .500 in over 50 at-bats this season.
- Trevor Wells also hit a homer in the series finale, smoking a line drive shot over the left field wall. Wells' homer is his sixth of the season, second most on Mobile's roster.
- Both Andrews and Wells, as well as Tucker Musgrove, finished with two RBIs each in the 10-run victory.
Rams Hit the Road for Conference Action
Mobile is set to continue the conference portion of the schedule next weekend as the Rams travel north to Blue Mountain, Miss. for a three-game series against Blue Mountain Christian on Mar. 10-11. Mobile and Blue Mountain will begin the series on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CT with a doubleheader, and conclude the series on Saturday with one game at 1:00 p.m. CT.
Mobile has won four of the last six games played against the Toppers.
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.
