Falcons Earn Doubleheader Split with No. 22 Northern Kentucky

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo baseball team (4-7) split with 22^nd-ranked Northern Kentucky University (1-1) this afternoon. UM lost game one 12-0 before winning the second game 9-8. The Falcons were led by senior Nelson Garcia, Jr. (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) who was 5-of-7 at the plate with a double and two RBI. Junior Kyle Butler (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern) picked up the win on the mound going six of the seven innings in game two while striking out eight.

Freshman Austin Dubberly (Helena, Ala./Pelham) was 3-of-7 at the plate with a double and three runs scored. Juniors Joe Prokop (Verbena, Ala./Chilton County) and Scottie Deason (Hoover, Ala./Spain Park), senior Chris Sosebee (Warrior, Ala./Sumiton Christian) and sophomore Duston Daugherty (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) all picked up two hits on the day. Prokop and Deason each had two RBI while Sosebee had one.

Senior Heath Tapscott (Hartselle, Ala./Hartselle) took home the loss in game one pitching 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and three walks.

UM fell behind early in the first game as NKU scored three runs in the second inning. The Norse tacked on one run in the fourth and another in the fifth to go up 5-0. Two runs in the seventh made it 7-0 and five runs in the ninth closed out the game 12-0.

The Norse opened up the scoring again in the second game as they scored a pair of runs in the second inning. Unlike the first game the Falcons were able to immediately match the runs in the bottom half.

Sosebee reached on a hit by pitch and then took second on a passed ball. A Garcia, Jr. single up the middle drove home Sosebee for the Falcons first run. Garcia, Jr. then used a pair of wild pitches to advance to third and scored on a Prokop fielder's choice.

The Falcons took over the lead in the third when they scored four runs off of four hits and one NKU error. Sosebee, Garcia, Jr., Prokop and Deason all hit singles in the inning to put up the four runs.

Up 6-2 the Falcons tacked on two more runs in the fourth as two hits and one NKU error led to the runs. Sosebee and Garcia, Jr. each had singles in the inning.

The Norse scored four runs in the fifth to cut the Falcons lead to 8-6. UM then scored one run in the sixth as Dubberly led of with a double to right field. He then advanced to third on a Andy Revell (Albertville, Ala./Albertville) groundout. Senior Kevin Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Dunedin) then brought him home with a groundout to the pitcher.

The Norse made it interesting in the seventh as they scored a pair of runs in the inning to cut the Falcons lead to just one. Junior Joey Noro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) came in for the final batter and was able to earn the strikeout as the Falcons won 9-8.

The Falcons will return to action Sunday, Feb. 21 at 1:00 p.m. as they host 22^nd-ranked Northern Kentucky University in the rubber match.