TIFTON – For a program selected dead last in the Southern States Athletic Conference preseason baseball poll, the ABAC Stallions are raising some eyebrows around the league.
 
The Stallions swept the University of Mobile Rams Friday, winning 5-4 and 4-1, at Stallion Field. The third and final game of the series will be played Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The sweep was highlighted by strong pitching and big blasts. Coming into the game, Mobile was averaging nearly nine runs a game through their first 17 outings, but combined for only five in Friday's doubleheader. ABAC's Kade Haywood, a junior who played for Stallion coach Blake Williams at Andrew College, turned in his best performance of the year in Game Two, allowing one earned run and striking out 10 over seven innings. Nicholas Milbrandt allowed no hits through the final two innings for his first save of the year.
 
Mobile starter Andin Bolen was solid as well and kept ABAC at bay while Mobile scored its lone run in the second inning. Breyton Cornelius singled, moved to third on Alex McWhorter's double and scored on a passed ball. But the Stallions finally dented the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth and they did it in a big way. Third baseman Chasin Cash ripped a double to the left field corner before designated hitter Joe Cooney crushed a shot over the fence in left center for a 2-1 lead.
 
ABAC added two more in the sixth, again using the long ball. This time, it was Cash's turn as he rocked the first pitch he saw for a two-out, two-run homer that scored Cameron Campbell who started the inning getting hit by a pitch. The Rams never threatened again, garnering one hit in the last four innings.
 
Friday's opener proved to be a thriller, tied at 4-4 entering the seventh and final inning. Stallion freshman Lalan Ellis entered the game in relief of starter Trypp Lumpkin and got the Rams out in order, giving the home team a chance for some heroics. Second baseman Harrison Childers drew a one-out walk off Cornelius, who doubled as relief pitcher and designated hitter, and advanced to third on pinch-hitter Dylan Davis's single. Then, shortstop Quentin Rawls delivered the game-winner with a line drive single to left field for the win.
 
ABAC trailed 1-0 after the top of the first before taking the lead in the bottom of the inning. First baseman Cris Walley did the honors with a two-run home run, his sixth of the year which ties him for the Southern States Athletic Conference lead. Mobile retook the lead 3-2 in the top of the third but the Stallions got the two runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Walley led off with a walk and with two outs, Cooney lifted a Trey Watson offering over the left field fence for a 4-3 lead.
 
Mobile set up the seventh-inning drama in the top of the sixth when Cornelius launched a long solo home run to center.
 
Cameron Campbell had two of ABAC's six hits in the opener. Lumpkin was not involved in the decision, allowing four runs over six innings of work, striking out seven.
 
With the sweep, ABAC is now 13-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play. While the baseball Stallions are finishing their series with Mobile at 1 p.m., the Fillies softball team will play a conference doubleheader with Point University at home beginning at 2 p.m. Also, the Stallions' men's tennis team will travel to Columbus for a match with Belmont Abbey at noon Saturday before returning home Sunday as the men's and women's squad will play Cumberland University Sunday morning at 10 a.m.