TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The strong 2023 season for the University of Mobile Baseball team continued on Wednesday and Thursday, Apr. 5-6 as the Rams managed a three-game conference sweep over Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Mobile and Stillman were originally scheduled to meet this upcoming weekend, but inclement weather forced officials to bump up the conference series to the middle of the week.
With Mobile sweeping the Tigers of Stillman, the Rams have now surpassed last season's win total of 25 games and improves this year's overall record to 27-6. Additionally, Mobile is 13-2 in conference play and extends the winning streak to six-straight games.
Wednesday Recap - Mobile Offense Too Much for Tigers
The two conference foes kicked off the three-game series with a seven-inning game on Wednesday afternoon. Both teams managed to score one run in the third inning, with Mobile eventually taking the lead with a two-run fifth. From there, the score held up as the Rams earned a 3-1 game one victory.
Catcher Jackson Breal drove in Mobile's first run of the game in the top of the third with a double to left center field. Tucker Musgrove, the reigning SSAC Baseball Player of the Week, followed Breal's double with a double of his own later in the fifth, eventually scoring a run following a Stillman error. One batter later, Breal notched his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly. Breal led the Rams in the series opener with two runs driven in and finished 1-for-3 at the plate. For Musgrove, the junior finished 2-for-2 at the plate, working two walks.
Musgrove later moved from center field to the mound to close things out for Mobile across the final two innings. Musgrove replaced starting pitcher Kyle White who ended his day with five innings of work, allowing just one run off three hits and striking out three batters. Across the final two innings, Musgrove worked two scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and tallying four strikeouts. He earned his team-high seventh save of the year in six-out fashion.
Later on Wednesday afternoon, the two teams met in the nightcap of the doubleheader, with both the Mobile and Stillman offenses coming alive. The Rams got off to a hot start, scoring one run in the top of the first following an RBI double by Samuel Plash. Later, Mobile managed a four-run fourth, being capped by a two-run home run by Trey Watson. Watson's homer was his first this season and first as a Mobile Ram. However, Mobile's big offensive inning came in the top of the fifth where the Rams pushed across six runs, two off a double by Sam Bowman. Following the fifth inning, Mobile had a commanding lead, 12-3.
Stillman did not go down without a fight, however, as the Tigers closed the deficit to a 13-8 margin after the seventh inning. Unfortunately for Stillman, Mobile's bats stayed hot in the top of the eighth as the Rams put the game away with their second four-run inning of the game. Mobile won game two, 17-8.
Sam Bowman finished 3-for-6 in game two, leading Mobile with four RBIs. Trey Watson tallied three RBIs in the win, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate. Overall, Mobile saw nine batters record at least one RBI in the victory. On the mound, Landon Moore and Haden Parker combined to pitch 3 1/3 innings of work from out of the bullpen to close out the game, allowing only one unearned run.
Thursday Recap - Mobile's Offense Keeps Rolling
In the series finale on Thursday, the Mobile bats picked up right where the left off the day prior and tallied 16 runs in game three, run-ruling the Tigers in eight innings. Mobile scored in all eight innings played on Thursday, recording four three-run innings. Stillman only managed four runs in game three.
Samuel Plash put together a great day at the plate in the series finale, leading Mobile with a 3-for-3 batting line and notching four RBIs. Plash recorded his third homer of the year in the win. Sam Bowman recorded a triple and a home run in the win, ending his day with three RBIs. The homer for Bowman is just his second of the year. Both Tucker Musgrove and Jackson Breal finished with two RBIs each in the victory.
On the mound, Matthew Holston got the start and pitched four innings of three-hit ball. Holston allowed just one run and picked up four strikeouts. Trevor Wells closed out the game on the mound with three innings of work, earning his second save of the season. In Wells' three innings, the senior allowed one run off three hits and punched out two batters.
Overall, Mobile outscored Stillman College 36-13 in the three-game series sweep.
Crosstown Rivals Meet Again
Following the successful road series in Tuscaloosa, the Rams are scheduled to face Spring Hill College next for a 7:00 p.m. CT game on Tuesday, Apr. 11. The meeting between Spring Hill and Mobile is the first this season and will be the ninth meeting overall over the last three seasons. In that span, Mobile is 3-5 against the Badgers, dropping the last two games.
Tuesday's game is just one game and will be held at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala.
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.
