SALISBURY, Md.—The Hobart baseball team secured a 4-1 victory over No. 14 Mount Union on Friday at Williams Stadium, marking the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win and their first victory over a nationally-ranked opponent.
Senior
Cole Tarrant pitched 6 1/3 innings for Hobart, allowing only one earned run on four hits while striking out two batters, including his 100th career strikeout. He issued three walks and hit four batters but found ways to pitch out of jams, securing the win and improving his record to 5–3. First-year
Joe Dunham came on in relief, pitching the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up just one hit, while recording the save.
Senior second baseman
Christian Petry set the tone at the top of the order, delivering two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in five plate appearances. Senior
Will Jones drove in two runs and drew two walks. Junior
Sean Garvin contributed an RBI double.
Hobart started strong in the first inning. Petry drew a walk and advanced on an error, setting the stage for Garvin's RBI double down the right field line. Jones added an RBI single, allowing first-year
Jack O'Neil to score. Sophomore
Jack Farnen's fielder's choice brought Garvin home, giving Hobart a 3–0 lead.
In the second inning, Hobart promptly loaded the bases when junior
Jack Byrnes was hit by a pitch, Petry reached on an infield single and O'Neil singled to left. With one out, Jones lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to extend Hobart's lead to 4–0.
Mount Union got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning. Jake Jung singled on a ball that was deep in the hole at short. With one out and runners on second and third, Head Coach
Brad Cook turned to his bullpen and Dunham. Daniel Tome III broke up the shutout with a sacrifice fly to center, but Dunham got the next batter to fly out to escape further damage.
Hobart made the three-run lead stand up with a solid defense that didn't allow another runner to advance past first base.
Hobart (31-13) will face Salisbury (33-9) at noon Saturday, May 16. The host Sea Gulls defeated Bridgewater State 11-2 in the first game of the regional.
Mount Union (31-11) will play in Saturday's first game against Bridgewater State (30-9). First pitch is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
