XULA wins 5-4 at Mobile in rain-delayed game

MOBILE, Ala. — Two-run hits by Antonio Rodriguez and Danny Coleman and six relief innings by Nigel Mayfield helped Xavier University of Louisiana earn a 5-4 baseball victory against Mobile.

XULA (19-5) and the Rams (20-12) originally were scheduled to play two seven-inning games Tuesday, but the teams agreed to one nine-inning game after a three-hour, 40-minute rain delay.

After the delay, both teams scored four times apiece in the fifth inning. Rodriguez hit a two-run single, and Danny Coleman smacked a two-run double to deep center to give XULA a 5-0 lead. But Mobile cut XULA’s lead to one with the help of four errors in that inning.

XULA finished with six errors, tying its season worst.

Mayfield (4-1) entered the game after the rain delay in relief of starter Blair Frederick and allowed six hits and one walk. He struck out four and is 3-0 in his last three appearances.

Frederick struck out six in three innings.

Rodriguez and Co Co Simoneaux had two hits apiece. Rodriguez scored the first XULA run on a two-out wild pitch in the fourth.

Mobile entered the game among “others receiving votes” in the most recent NAIA coaches poll. The Rams were 32nd overall. In the Bo Chip Power Index on the NAIA website, XULA was 54th and Mobile 65th through Monday’s games.

Next for XULA will be three-game series against Voorhees at Denmark, S.C.: a noon Friday game and a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader. Times are Eastern.