Montevallo Falls in Thrilling Game with Stillman

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The University of Montevallo baseball team (21-20-1) came within one out of its first victory in April. Stillman College used a three-run ninth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and send Montevallo home with its seventh-straight loss. The Falcons were led by freshman Brett Roney (Wetumpka, Ala./Wetumpka) and junior Andy Revell (Albertville, Ala./Snead State C.C.) who each had two hits. Roney added a run scored and an RBI while Revell picked up two runs scored, a triple and an RBI.

Sophomore Joe Prokop (Clanton, Ala./Chilton County) and senior Jeremy Jones (Troy, Ala./Lurleen B. Wallace C.C.) each had two RBI. Prokop added a double and a run scored.  Junior Kevin Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Gulf Coast C.C.) was the only other Falcon to have an extra-base hit with a double.

On the mound junior Heath Tapscott (Hartselle, Ala./UAB) took home the loss as he pitched the final 1.2 innings with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. Freshman Wes Rich (Pelham, Ala./Pelham) had the start going the first 2.0 innings while striking out two and walking three. Sophomore Mat Turner (Louisville, Ky./Labette C.C.) relieved Rich going the next 2.0 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. The only other Montevallo pitcher was junior Taylor Edwards (Pleasant Grove, Ala./Northwest Shoals C.C.) who went 3.0 innings with three strikeouts and a walk.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead scoring two run in the very first inning. The Falcons answered with a run in the second as Garcia led off with a double and was driven home by a Roney single. SC would not be out-done as they matched the Falcons one run in the bottom half.

The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the fourth to make their lead 5-1. The Falcons had a much needed explosive inning in the seventh as they plated five runs and took the lead.

Senior Dustin Rhodes (Starkville, Miss./Starkville) led off with a walk and was then sacrificed to second. Junior Chris Sosebee (Warrior, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) was then hit by a pitch. That opened the door for a Prokop double that drove in two runs to make the score 5-3. Jones then singled in Prokop to cut the lead to just one.

Jones stole second and was driven home by a Revell single to tie the game at five. Junior Cory Luckie (Fairhope, Ala./Bevill State C.C.) then drove in the leading run to end the inning up 6-5. The Falcons then tacked on two more runs in the eighth to make it 8-5.

Rhodes, Roney and Sosebee led off with back-to-back-to-back singles that scored a run. Jones then had a sacrifice fly to score the final run of the inning.

The Tigers answered with two runs in the bottom half to make the score 8-7 in favor of the Falcons.

UM tacked on what was thought to be an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Rhodes drew a bases loaded walk to score a run.

Down 9-7 the Tigers came out in the ninth on a mission. Tapscott struck out the first batter and then walked the next. The next Tiger hit a single to make it first and second with one out. Tapscott then struck out the next batter looking to make it just one out away from victory. The following batter doubled to score the first run of the inning and cut the lead to 9-8. The tying run scored on a wild pitch before an RBI single won the game for the Tigers.

The Falcons will return to action Friday, April 10 at 12:00 p.m. as travel to the University of West Georgia for their final GSC road series of the season.