ROCKABILLYS STADIUM | JACKSON, Tenn. - After opening the 2024 SSAC Baseball Championship Tournament with a loss to Loyola University (La.) on Wednesday in Jackson, Tenn., the University of Mobile Baseball team wrapped up the 2024 season on Friday morning, May 3 after finishing 1-2 overall in pool play.
Mobile fell to Faulkner University (Ala.) 5-1 on Thursday afternoon for the second consecutive defeat in the postseason, but bounced back and concluded the season on a high note with a 10-5 victory over eventual pool winner Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) on Friday. Mobile ends the 2024 season with a 19-21 overall record under first-year head coach Kyle Friday.
Faulkner 5, Mobile 1 [Box Score]
On Thursday, Mobile met top seed Faulkner University in an important matchup during pool play, with both teams scoring one run in the second inning. From there, Faulkner's pitching staff quieted the bats on Mobile's side, while adding four runs of their own in the latter part of the game. All four unanswered runs came via the home run. Faulkner eventually handed the Rams a 5-1 loss.
Mobile's lone run came off the bat of Cameron Brock, who cranked a solo home run to left field. However, the Rams tallied just five hits and left six runners on base. Mobile's two through four batters of the starting lineup all finished 1-for-4 at the plate. Meanwhile, the pitching staff for Mobile allowed nine hits, with all five runs being earned runs. Starting pitcher Tyler Cruse tossed six innings, striking out seven and allowing two runs, while reliever Jacob Davis pitched the remaining three innings, picking up four strikeouts and coughing up three runs.
Due to other results in pool play, the loss to Faulkner eliminated Mobile from advancing in the tournament.
Mobile 10, Blue Mountain 5 [Box Score]
The following day, Mobile wrapped up play in this year's conference tournament with a trivial game against Blue Mountain, who clinched the pool on Thursday after opening this year's tourney 2-0. The elimination did not stop Mobile from competing, however, as Mobile put up 10 runs off 13 hits in a winning effort.
The Rams relied on a big five-run fifth inning and a three-run ninth to stay out front, with Blue Mountain making a late rally in the second half of the game. Mobile's three insurance runs in the ninth helped seal the game for Mobile as the Rams ended the 2024 season with a 10-5 win.
J.T. Lastorka finished 2-for-4 with a walk and RBI double, while Dylan Moran notched two RBIs off a 2-for-4 line at the dish, adding a double as well. In two at-bats, Jackson Breal finished 1-for-2 with an RBI double, and Landon Moore finished 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. On the mound, Trey Watson was awarded the win with five innings pitched, allowing just two hits and picking up three strikeouts. Five pitchers came in from out of the bullpen.
Kyle Friday played a total of 24 members of his roster in the season finale, allowing several Rams to take the field for the final time of their collegiate career.
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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.
