No. 30 Falcons Split Doubleheader with No. 18 Ouachita Baptist

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The No. 30 University of Montevallo baseball team (15-7-1) continued its strong play as it split with No. 18 Ouachita Baptist University (17-7), 5-13 and 4-1. The Falcons were led on the day by senior Ryan Norman (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) who went 4-for-7 and picked up Montevallo's only two hits in the 4-1 win over OBU. Junior Justin Aaron (Morris, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) picked up the lone win on the mound going 4.2 innings while striking out five and allowing just one walk.

In game one the Falcons were led by senior Dustin Rhodes (Starkville, Miss./Starkville), junior Chris Sosebee (Warrior, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) and Norman who all went 2-for-4. Rhodes added a run scored, two RBI and a homerun while Norman had an RBI and a run scored. Sosebee picked up a double, a run scored and an RBI. Junior Cory Luckie (Fairhope, Ala./Bevill State C.C.) had the only other RBI as he went 1-for-4 with a run scored, double and an RBI.

On the mound junior Caleb McLeod (Pleasant Grove, Ala./Shelton State C.C.) got the start and the loss as he went 5.0 innings. He gave up seven unearned runs while striking out three. Junior Michael Fields (Belleville, Ill./Southwestern Illinois C.C.) put in an inning of work while striking out one and walking two. The final pitcher was sophomore Mat Turner (Louisville, Ky./Labette C.C.) who went 3.0 innings while striking out five.

In game two Norman was the lone Falcon to pick up a hit as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Junior Andy Revell (Albertville, Ala./Snead State C.C.) earned a pair of walks and stole three bases without being caught.

Aaron picked up the win after starter Kyle Johanson (Bowman, Ga./Gordon College) was only able to go 1.0 inning with a walk. Aaron went 4.2 innings with five strikeouts and one walk while junior John Michael Caraway (Trussville, Ala./Gadsden State C.C.) went the final 1.1 innings picking up the save and striking out one. Aaron's record improves to 2-1 while Caraway picks up his first save.

The Tigers jumped out to an early led in game one as they scored a run in the third and then tacked on six in the fourth. The Falcons fought back with three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth as Rhodes hit a two-run homerun. Up 7-4 the Tiger's bats exploded again in the seventh as they put up another six-run inning to make their lead 13-4. The Falcons tacked on another run in the eighth but it would not be enough.

Game two saw the Falcons jump out early as they scored a pair of runs in both the first and second. In the first inning the Falcons used a walk, a hit and an error to score two runs. In the second inning they picked up a hit by pitch, a walk, a balk and a single to score another two runs and that would be all they needed.

The Tigers picked up their lone run in the fifth but they would not be able to produce anymore as the Falcons won 4-1.

The Falcons return to action tomorrow, March 8 at 1 p.m. as they play No. 18 Ouachita Baptist University in the rubber match.