FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo baseball team won two out of three games in a weekend series against Flagler College in Peach Belt Conference action March 10-11.

The Falcons (13-11 overall, 8-4 in Peach Belt Conference) won their second-straight game in 10 innings over the Saints, 7-5, in the series finale March 11.

The win gives the Falcons their third-straight Peach Belt Conference series win. Montevallo was led at the plate by senior Blaine Rosenberg, an Oak Mountain High School graduate, who drove in three runs while going 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored.

His double came in the top of the tenth as he hit a two-out, two-RBI double to right field to score senior Heath Peterson and freshman Vinny Rodriguez.

Senior Wes Rich, a Pelham High School graduate, picked up his second-straight extra inning victory as he pitched the final 2.1 innings with a strikeout and three hits given up. His record now improves to 2-1 on the year.

Junior Kameron Heiser got the start and went 6.1 innings with two strikeouts and three walks. He scattered seven hits and four runs. Sophomore Edward Brandsema pitched the middle 1.1 innings with a strikeout, two walks and a run given up.

Peterson and senior Chris Ross, a Pelham High School graduate, were the only two Falcons with more than one hit. Peterson was 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored while Ross was 2-for-5 with a homerun, an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Will Fulmer drove in a pair of runs while going 1-for-4 at the plate with a hit by pitch.

Both teams went scoreless over the opening three innings. UM struck first in the fourth as Rosenberg drove in a run on a fielder’s choice after Ross and Peterson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. The Saints responded with three runs in the bottom half to take their first lead of the game.

UM cut into the lead in the fifth as Ross hit a two-out homerun to right centerfield but FC responded again with a run of its own to take a 4-2 lead. UM got back on top in the sixth as the top three batters reached on a hit by pitch, walk and a hit by pitch. After a strikeout, freshman Zack Willoughby drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to right field. Fulmer then followed with a two-RBI single to left field to put the Falcons up 5-4.

The Saints tied the game in the eighth on an RBI single but the Falcons responded in the tenth as Rosenberg hit a two-out, two-RBI double to right field.

Rich then took over in the bottom half. He allowed a lead-off single and then struck out the next batter. After another single made it first and second with just one out, Rich produced a double play ball to end the inning.

The Falcons fell in the opening game of the series 12-4 before winning the nightcap 4-3 in 10 innings March 10.

Montevallo was led on the day by Fulmer, who went 3-for-8 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Fulmer’s double came in the tenth inning of game two as he led off the inning with a double and then was sacrificed over by junior Austin Dubberly, a Pelham High School graduate, and sent home on a sacrifice fly from Ross.

Willoughby was 3-for-9 at the plate with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Rodriguez was 2-for-7 with a walk and a run scored. Ross was 2-for-8 with a double, a homerun, two RBI and a run scored.

Rosenberg was the only other Falcon with multiple hits as he went 2-for-4 with a double, a homerun, an RBI and a run scored.

On the mound, junior Michael Shreves took the start in game one and went 3.0 innings with three strikeouts, four walks and eight runs given up including seven earned.

Sophomore Hunter Stevens pitched the remaining 5.0 innings with one strikeout, no walks and four runs given up. In game two sophomore Alex Guilford got the start and went 6.1 innings with five strikeouts and two walks. He scattered four hits and gave up three runs.

Brandsema went the next 1.2 innings with three strikeouts and three hits but held the Saints scoreless. Rich closed out the game pitching the final 2.0 innings with a strikeout and held the Saints hitless. He picked up the win to improve his record to 1-1.

The Falcons return to action Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. as they travel to in-state rival the University of West Alabama.