WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - For the first time since the 2019 season, the University of Mobile Baseball program participated in the NAIA Baseball Opening Round on Monday afternoon, May 15, competing against Columbia College (Mo.) in the Williamsburg Bracket in Williamsburg, Ky. Mobile entered the opening round as the No. 2 seed in the Williamsburg Bracket, while Columbia College entered as the third seed. Despite leading for the majority of the game, Mobile allowed a late comeback and eventually fell to the Cougars of Columbia, 10-7. The loss moves Mobile to the elimination bracket in Williamsburg with a 35-14 overall record as the Rams will battle to keep the 2023 season alive on Tuesday.
Opening Round Recap
Mobile opened the scoring on Monday, scoring a lone run in the bottom of the first inning following a throwing error by the Columbia College catcher. The Cougars grabbed the lead one inning later, however, scoring two runs in the top of the second. A couple innings later, Mobile then managed a four-run fourth inning to retake the lead, with three runs scoring off a home run by catcher Jackson Breal. One inning later, Sam Bowman drove in Mobile's sixth run of the game with a double down the right field line. Through five innings, the Rams had the edge, 6-2.
In the top of the seventh, Columbia's offense sparked with three runs to cut into Mobile's lead. The Rams added an insurance run in the bottom half of the seventh following an RBI single by Trevor Wells, but Columbia's offense continued to catch fire in the eighth. In the top of the eighth, the Cougars took the lead with a five-run inning, while managing to shut down Mobile's offense over the last two innings. Columbia's eight runs over the last three innings earned the Cougars the win as Mobile drops to the losing bracket of the opening round tournament.
Columbia finished with 16 hits in the game, while Mobile tallied 11. Individually, Landon Moore led the Mobile offense with a 3-for-5 batting line, scoring two runs. Both Trevor Wells and Sam Bowman ended the afternoon with two hits a piece, with Jackson Breal recording a team-high three runs driven in. On the mound, Mobile used four pitchers with starter Kyle White tossing 6 2/3 innings and allowing four runs. Additionally, White notched six strikeouts against Columbia.
Elimination Game Up Next
Mobile's tough loss to Columbia on Monday puts the pressure on as the Rams are scheduled to face the fourth-seeded team of Reinhardt University (Ga.) in an elimination game on Tuesday, May 16. Tuesday's game is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. CT and will be broadcasted live HERE.
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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.
