STERLINGTON, La. - The University of Mobile Baseball team, led by interim head coach Kyle Friday, traveled west to the state of Louisiana and began the 2024 season at the annual Cajun Collision on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 8, playing a total of two games against non-conference opponents. Mobile, ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Baseball Top 25 Coaches' Poll to start the year, opened Thursday's competition with a 6-4 loss to No. 5 LSU-Shreveport, while later falling 2-1 to unranked Louisiana Christian that afternoon. Both games were scheduled seven-inning contests.
The Rams open this season with an 0-2 start and are scheduled for two more games in the Cajun Collision on Friday.
Game One Recap: (5) LSU-Shreveport 6, (18) Mobile 4
Second-year Ram and southpaw Tyler Cruse got the nod on the mound in the season opener for Mobile, giving up two early runs in the first inning to the LSU-S Pilots. However, Cruse settled in and pitched four shutouts innings across the next four frames, while the Mobile offense evened up the score across the fourth and fifth innings.
Mobile's first run of the season came off the bat of senior Sean Mason, who recorded an infield single in the top of the fourth to drive in Kline Smith. One inning later, Mobile newcomer Peyton Bell scored on a double play, which tied the game at two runs a piece. Cruse finished with five innings of work on the mound, striking out seven batters and walking four. He allowed just one earned run and one unearned run in his season debut.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Pilots reclaimed the lead after a pinch-hit three-run home run. Reece Miles, making his collegiate debut for Mobile, put traffic on the bases with a pair of hit batters before Christian Hobbs of LSU-S connected with the three-run homer off newcomer Nate Anderson. LSU-S managed an add-on run later in the sixth with a double to left center off Anderson.
Down 6-2 entering the seventh and final inning, Mobile did not give up on the game and pushed across two runs. Cameron Brock, another newcomer for Mobile, drove a double to left center for his first run-batted-in on the season, and Sam Bowman followed with an RBI groundout. However, the Mobile comeback was short-lived as LSU-S closing pitcher David Hankins shut the door for the save.
Mobile finished the season opener with six hits, with Cameron Brock and J.T. Lastorka leading the offense with two hits a piece. The Rams worked four walks in the loss.
Game Two Recap: Louisiana Christian 2, (18) Mobile 1
Later on Thursday afternoon, Mobile Head Coach Kyle Friday sent out Trey Watson for his debut on the mound. Watson, a catcher last year in his first season with Mobile, pitched a gem despite the loss, throwing a complete game and racking up 11 strikeouts. Watson allowed just five hits, no walks, and two runs. Only one run was earned on the junior.
The offense was hard to come by for Mobile in the second game played on Thursday, with the Rams tallying just five hits in the one-run loss. Catcher Colton Wood was responsible for Mobile's lone run, with the freshman recording a double that scored J.T. Lastorka. Landon Moore finished 2-for-3 at the plate to become the only Ram with multiple hits against the LCU Wildcats on Thursday evening. As a team, Mobile struck out five times and were unable to work a walk against two opposing pitchers.
Cajun Collision Continues on Friday
Mobile is set to return to action early on Friday, Feb. 9, facing Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Tex.) at 9:30 a.m. CT. Later on Friday evening, Mobile is scheduled to face No. 21 Texas Wesleyan at 6:30 p.m. CT before heading home to Mobile, Ala.
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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.
