Falcons Split Conference Opening Doubleheader against West Florida

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The University of Montevallo baseball team (19-9-1, 1-1 GSC East) opened up conference play on the road against the University of West Florida (15-10, 1-1 GSC East) and split a doubleheader dropping game one 9-3 before taking game two 11-5. The Falcons were led by junior Chris Sosebee (Warrior, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) who had a 3-for-6 performance with four RBI, two doubles and four runs scored. Junior Kevin Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Gulf Coast C.C.) chipped in a 4-for-7 day at the dish with a double, two RBI and three runs scored.

Senior Jeremy Jones (Troy, Ala./Lurleen B. Wallace C.C.) was tied for the team lead with four RBI as well despite only picking up one hit.

On the mound junior Michael Fields (Belleville, Ill./Southwestern Illinois C.C.) picked up only his second win of the season and Montevallo's first conference win of the season. He went 3.0 innings while striking out one and not allowing any runs. Junior Kyle Johanson (Bowman, Ga./Gordon College) got the start but left after just one inning with four walks and two hits given up.

Junior John Michael Caraway (Trussville, Ala./Gadsden State C.C.) had a three inning save as he closed out the victory with four strikeouts and three walks.

In the opening game junior Caleb McLeod (Pleasant Grove, Ala./Shelton State C.C.) started the game on the mound and picked up the loss as he dropped to 1-2 on the season. He pitched 5.2 innings while striking out five and walking a pair. He gave up just two runs but the Falcons were unable to gain the lead after he left the game.

In game one the two teams battled through three scoreless innings before the Argonauts struck in the bottom of the fourth. They picked up two runs off of two hits to take an early advantage. The Falcons would strike back in the top of the seventh as Jones picked up an RBI walk.

The Argonauts quickly responded with six runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 7-1 lead. They added another run in the eighth to make it 8-1 before the Falcons scored twice in the ninth.

The two runs in the ninth came off the bat of Jones as he doubled to left center to score senior Dustin Rhodes (Starkville, Miss./Starkville) and Garcia.

The second game was a much different story as the Argonauts jumped out to an early lead as they scored four runs in the opening inning. The Falcons were able to tie the game in the fourth as they pushed across four runs off of three hits and an error. Sosebee picked up two RBI in the inning off a single to centerfield while freshman Josh Headley (Gardendale, Ala./Gardendale) had one with a single down the right field line and the last RBI came off a sacrifice bunt from Jones.

UM was on a roll and kept the momentum going as they plated five runs in the very next inning to take a 9-4 lead. Senior Ryan Norman (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) had an RBI single followed by an RBI double by Sosebee. Garcia followed suit with a two-RBI double and finally junior Corey Luckie (Fairhope, Ala./Bevill State C.C.) singled to second base to drive in the final run.

The Argonauts made a small attempt at a comeback as they scored a run in the sixth but it was immediately answered with two runs in the seventh by the Falcons as Sosebee had an RBI double and Luckie had a well placed sacrifice bunt for an RBI.

The Falcons will return to the field tomorrow, March 15 against the University of West Florida for the rubber match.