Falcons Win Streak Extends to Five with Sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo baseball team (11-4-1) extended its win streak to five as they swept a doubleheader against Kentucky Wesleyan College (0-8) for the second time in as many days, 8-4 and 11-4. Senior Ryan Norman (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) led the way for the Falcons collecting five hits, four RBI and four runs scored over the two games.

In game one Norman went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs score while junior Cory Luckie (Fairhope, Ala./Bevill State C.C.) went 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI. Freshman Brett Roney (Wetumpka, Ala./Wetumpka) was 1-for-1 with two walks and a hit by pitch. Others picking up RBI were freshman Joe Handley (Hueytown, Ala./Hueytown) and junior Kevin Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Gulf Coast C.C.). Handley was 1-for-2 with an RBI while Garcia went 0-for-0 with three walks and an RBI.

On the mound junior Caleb McLeod (Pleasant Grove, Ala./Shelton State C.C.) got the start going 3.2 innings while striking out four and allowing just one run. Junior Justin Aaron (Morris, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) pitched the final 3.1 innings picking up the victory and striking out six. His record improved to 1-1.

In game two Norman, junior Andy Revell (Albertville, Ala./Snead State C.C.), Garcia and senior Jeremy Jones (Troy, Ala./Lurleen B. Wallace C.C.) led the way each picking up a pair of hits. Norman went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Revell went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Garcia was 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and two walks. Jones went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two walks, a hit by pitch and an RBI.

Roney picked up a pair of RBI after going 1-for-2 with a walk.

On the mound freshman Mitch Holcombe (Oak Grove, Ala./Oak Grove) got the start and the win becoming the first Montevallo pitcher to reach three wins. He pitched 4.1 shutout innings while striking out five and walking two. He was relieved by freshman Wes Rich (Pelham, Ala./Pelham) who went 1.2 shutout innings and struck out two with two walks. Junior Jason Ellis (Vestavia Hills, Alabama/Vestavia Hills) was the final pitcher on the mound and went 1.0 inning. He struck out two and walked a pair while giving up just one earned run.

The Falcons struck early in game one picking up a run in the first and a pair in the third. Norman hit a single up the middle to score the run in the first. He then scored the first run in the third after Garcia laid down a sacrifice bunt. Handley singled a few batters later to score freshman Josh Headley (Gardendale, Ala./Gardendale).

The Panthers answered with a run in the fourth to cut the lead to 3-1. Montevallo added another run in the fifth Luckie tripled to score Garcia.

Down 4-1 the Panthers linked together a pair of singles and a homerun to tie the game in the top of the sixth. The Falcons would respond in the bottom half as they used four hits and an error to score four runs and put the game out of reach. Three runners scored on a Norman single to left field that was botched by the fielder to allow Norman to advance to second. A few batters later Luckie singled to score Norman and that would be all the runs the Falcons needed as they won 8-4.

In game two the Falcons again scored in the first and third. Revell singled to score Jones in the first and Garcia doubled to score Norman in the third.

The Falcons exploded in the fourth as they scored eight runs off of just four hits and a Panthers error. Senior Dustin Rhodes (Starkville, Miss./Starkville) led of the inning with a hit by pitch and was followed by a double from freshman Cory Ellis (Vestavia Hills, Ala./Vestavia Hills). Jones then singled to score Rhodes. Roney followed suit with a single to score Ellis.

Roney then stole second which allowed Jones to take home on the throw. Roney followed that up with a steal of third and scored off a single from Norman. Junior Chris Sosebee (Warrior, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) then walked and then Norman and Sosebee executed a double steal. Garcia then walked to load the bases and Luckie hit into a fielder's choice to score Sosebee. Garcia was safe due to a throwing error by the pitcher at second and that also allowed Norman to score.

Luckie then stole second and Handley walked to load the bases once again. Garcia followed by scoring on a wild pitch which Luckie used to move to third. Handley stole second and was followed by a walk of Jones. Luckie scored when Roney was walked with the bases loaded and that ended all the scoring.  

UM tacked on another run in the sixth as Revell singled to centerfield to score Cory Ellis. The Panthers tried to answer in the top of the seventh as they scored four runs of a hit and three Montevallo errors but it would not be enough as the Falcons won 11-4.

The Falcons will be back in action Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 2:00 p.m. as they travel to No. 13 North Georgia College and State University.