MOBILE, Ala.— The Montreat baseball team kicked off a four-game series against the University of Mobile Rams on Friday by playing a pair of nonconference matchups down along the Gulf Coast. Behind strong pitching in game one and a big inning in game two, the hosts came away with 5-1 and 13-4 victories. The defeats dropped the Cavaliers to 2-6 on the year.
Back-to-back two-out hits, the second of which went for extra bases, gave Mobile (3-3) a 1-0 lead through just a single frame of play during the initial contest.
Montreat managed to get that run back and pull level with the Rams in the top of the third.
Zach Brownlee notched a leadoff single to start the frame, and
Hunter Furches plated him three batters later on a sacrifice fly to center. The hosts responded in the bottom half of the inning, though, retaking the lead on an RBI single.
The Cavs left the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth as they were unable to push a run across in both innings. Meanwhile, Mobile added a pair of insurance runs thanks to a two-out rally in the fifth, and it tacked on another run via a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. Those knocks ultimately rounded out the scoring as the home side claimed game one, 5-1.
Manny Moore (2-3) recorded two of the Cavaliers' five hits during the opener. Brownlee batted 1-for-1 with two walks.
Merritt Evans and
Logan Strickland combined to log Montreat's six frames on the mound.
Richard Matos Delacruz handed the visitors an early 1-0 advantage in game two with his RBI single during the top half of the first; however, the hosts came right back with a two-run base hit in the bottom of the frame.
Furches roped an RBI single into left field during the second as the Cavs evened the score at 2-2. Unfortunately for Montreat, a big third inning put the Rams in the driver's seat. Mobile scored six runs with two outs, vaulting itself out to an 8-2 lead through three.
Matos Delacruz tallied another RBI on a groundout in the fifth, but the Rams came right back with a sac fly in the fifth and a trio of runs in the sixth to extend their advantage up to 13-3.
Tommy Ramos scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, but the damage was done as Mobile closed out its doubleheader sweep with a 13-4 triumph in game two.
Matos Delacruz (2-4) and
Jason Brulport (2-3) registered multi-hit performances in the latter half of Friday's twin bill.
Hunter Rast struck out the side during a scoreless inning of relief work.
"We improved in small areas today and continue to grow," said head coach
Jason Beck. "Unfortunately, we struggled in some other areas that we have normally been successful in. It's just a matter of putting it together and playing a complete game. We will be back out there tomorrow trying to make the right adjustments, and we look forward to it."
Montreat and Mobile conclude their four-game set tomorrow afternoon with another twin bill. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. in Mobile, Ala.
