Both teams battered the opposing pitchers to the tune of 37 combined hits, but the Rams had the last laugh as Stephen Stork and Jared Baria combined to go 9-for-11 at the plate with 8 RBIs and 7 runs scored.
The Rams found themselves down 12-11 in the top of the 9th inning with 1 out, when the offense made one last statement. David Cramblitt and TJ Esfeller drew walks and Nelson Curry chopped an infield single to load the bags with 1 out. Stork then played the role of hero, stroking a 1-2 offering to deep center field for a bases-clearing triple and a 14-12 lead. Baria followed with a RBI single to cap the scoring.
Scott Mitchell picked up the win with 2.2 innings of 1-hit relief for the Rams. Stork finished 5-for-6 with 5 runs and 3 RBI, Baria finished 4-for-5 with 5 RBI, Carlos Romero finished 3-for-6 with 4 RBI and Cramblitt finished 2-for-3 at the plate.
With the 4-hit afternoon, Baria moved into 1st-place on the all-time hit list at the University of Mobile. Baria bested the old mark of 212 by Joe Espada when he laced a RBI triple in the 1st inning of the ball game. The second baseman is currently at 216 career hits.
The 2nd-seeded Rams (43-14) advance to face 4th-seeded LSU-Shrevport Wednesday at 6:00 pm central time.
Live Stats will be available for all games and online radio broadcasts will be available if Mobile plays Lee, Belhaven or LSU-Shreveport. Fans can visit that school's web site for the links.
On the season, Mobile is 1-3 versus Auburn-Montgomery, 4-2 versus Belhaven College, and 3-4 versus LSU-Shreveport. The Rams have not faced Lee University or Southern Polytechnic.
