Falcons Drop Doubleheader with West Alabama, 7-2 and 14-1

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo baseball team (19-12-1, 1-4 GSC East) fell to the University of West Alabama (19-9, 4-0 GSC East) in their conference home opener, 7-2 and 14-1. The Falcons were led by freshman Duston Daugherty (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) who went 4-for-7 over the two games with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Junior Jason Ellis (Vestavia Hills, Alabama/Vestavia Hills) was the most effective pitcher for the Falcons as he pitched 4.2 innings in game one while striking out four and allowing just three hits.

Junior Andy Revell (Albertville, Ala./Snead State C.C.), senior Jeremy Jones (Troy, Ala./Lurleen B. Wallace C.C.) and senior Chase Fowler (Sylacauga, Ala./Central Alabama C.C.) picked up Montevallo's three RBI. Senior Dustin Rhodes (Starkville, Miss./Starkville) went 2-for-6 with a double and was robbed of a homerun as the UWA centerfielder climbed the outfield fence to take away a shot in the second inning of game two.

Junior Cory Luckie (Fairhope, Ala./Bevill State C.C.), Revell and senior Ryan Norman (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) each picked up two hits while junior Chris Sosebee (Warrior, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) had a hit and three walks.

On the mound freshman Mitch Holcombe (Oak Grove, Ala./Oak Grove) and junior Caleb McLeod (Pleasant Grove, Ala./Shelton State C.C.) picked up the losses as they each started their respective games. Holcombe went 4.1 innings in game one with a strikeout and a pair of walks while McLeod went 5.0 innings in game two with three strikeouts and three walks.

The Falcons fell behind early in game one as the Tigers scored six runs over the first five innings and held the Falcons scoreless over that period. The Tigers added another run in the ninth before the Falcons broke through in the bottom half to score a pair.

The Falcons opened up the ninth with back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. Fowler then earned a walk to score the first run of the inning. The Tigers then turned a double play during the next at bat while junior Kevin Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Gulf Coast C.C.) scored. Daugherty then doubled down the left field line but due to the double play the play before no one scored. The final out came on the very next play as the Falcons grounded out to second.

In game two the Falcons scored their lone run in the very first inning as Daugherty led off with a double to right centerfield. He was then sacrificed over to third and scored on a Revell single up the middle.

The Tigers scored two in the second, five in the fifth and seven in the seventh to win 14-1.

The Falcons return to action tomorrow, March 22 at 1 p.m. as they finish the series against West Alabama.