JACOBS FIELD | MOBILE, Ala. - One day after the University of Mobile Baseball team earned a 13-3 run-rule victory over No. 25 William Carey (Miss.) to begin a three-game weekend series, the two conference rivals met for an afternoon doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 13, which eventually saw both teams earn a win.
William Carey came away with a 7-3 extra-inning win to open Saturday's doubleheader, with the Rams answering back in the nightcap with a 7-0 shutout victory. The shutout win for Mobile clinched the series over the 25th-ranked team in the NAIA, improving the season record to 16-15 overall on the year. Additionally, Mobile advances to 14-10 in the SSAC.
How It Happened
Saturday started with a pitchers' duel between Mobile's Trey Watson and William Carey's Dario Herrera, with both pitchers tossing over six innings of work on the mound. Up 1-0 in the final inning of the scheduled seven-inning game, William Carey needed just one out to seal the win. However, a costly error in right field gave the Rams new life and Mobile later pushed across the tying run following a bloop RBI single by Landon Moore. Tied 1-1, Mobile and William Carey went extra innings to open Saturday's doubleheader.
In extras, the Crusaders added two runs in the top of the eighth, taking a 3-1 advantage. Mobile's Bryce Eddington managed a base hit to open the bottom half of the frame, but saw two quick out recorded following. Once again down to their last out, the Rams continued to fight their way back against the Crusaders. J.T. Lastorka crushed a ball to right field on a 1-2 count, tying the game once more with his fifth home run of the season. Game one went to the ninth, which saw both teams work scoreless frames.
In the top of the 10th inning, hit-by-pitches and walks got the better of the Mobile pitching staff as William Carey managed to push across four runs. The four-run inning proved to be too much for the Rams, with the Crusaders earning a 7-3 win to even the series. In total, Mobile's four pitchers across game one combined to hit eight batters and issue seven walks, while allowing just three opposing hits in the losing effort. For starter Trey Watson, the right-handed thrower finished with eight innings of work, allowing only two hits and one unearned run. Watson struck out five.
At the plate, Mobile out-hit William Carey 6-3, with Sam Bowman finishing 2-for-4 with a walk. J.T. Lastorka's two-run homer highlighted the day at the dish as the senior finished 1-for-3, followed by Landon Moore with a 1-for-3 line at the plate with an RBI, run scored, and a walk.
In the rubber game later on Saturday, Mobile started fast at the plate, scoring four runs alone in the bottom of the first inning. Cameron Brock opened the scoring with an RBI single to right field, followed by a costly William Carey error which allowed two more runs to cross home plate. In the next inning, the Rams went up 6-0 on the Crusaders following a two-run single by Peyton Bell.
Meanwhile, Ethan McPherson was dealing on the mound for Mobile, tossing six scoreless innings entering the seventh and final inning of the game. Mobile pushed across an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth after an RBI single by Bryce Eddington, giving McPherson an opportunity to close out a complete-game shutout over the 25th-ranked team in the country. In the top of the seventh, McPherson completed his shutout, working a ground ball to end the game. He finished with six strikeouts, just one walk, and four hits allowed in the winning effort from the rubber, leading Mobile to a series victory over conference rival William Carey.
Mobile out-hit the Crusaders 8-4 in the series finale, led by Bryce Eddington and Jackson Breal who both finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Peyton Bell reached base three times in the win, finishing 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and RBIs. Cameron Brock also reached base three times, finishing 1-for-1 with two walks and a run driven in.
Starting Pitchers Sharp at Jacobs Field
On the weekend, Mobile's three starting pitchers held William Carey in check, allowing just 10 total hits in 20 total innings pitched against the ranked Crusaders. Tyler Cruse dazzled in the opener, Trey Watson kept Mobile in the game across game two, and Ethan McPherson produced a complete-game shutout to clinch the series. Final lines for all three pitchers can be found below.
- Tyler Cruse - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 3 BB, 1 HBP
- Trey Watson - 8.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 4 BB, 4 HBP
- Ethan McPherson - 7.0 IP, CG, 4 H, 0 R, 6 K, 1 BB, 0 HBP
Headed to Georgia
After the big weekend at Jacobs Field, Mobile is scheduled to return to action on the road next weekend in Thomasville, Ga. for a three-game conference series against the Thomas University (Ga.) Night Hawks. Next weekend's series is scheduled to begin on Friday, Apr. 19 with a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. CT, while concluding on Saturday, Apr. 20 with the series finale at 12:00 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE RAMS
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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.
