FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo baseball team defeated Stillman College 6-0 in its home opener Feb. 6 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.

Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez sparked Montevallo (3-1) to an early lead with his two-run homer as the Falcons posted four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Four pitchers combined to post the shutout, with junior starter Alex Guilford pitching six solid innings and picking up his first win of the season. Guilford finished with five strikeouts and two walks while allowing just two hits.

“It was a great win for us tonight,” said Montevallo coach Chandler Rose. “Alex Guilford and the pitching staff were sensational once again. Offensively, we did enough but still need to do a better job situationally and capitalizing on our opportunities. We have to get back to work and get ready for the weekend.”

Senior Devon Davis gave up one hit with one strikeout and one walk in 2/3 of an inning. Freshman Jake Christensen struck out one batter in 1 1/3 innings in relief. Fellow freshman Aron McRee allowed one walk in one inning on the mound.

Rodriguez led the Falcons as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer while driving in two runs and scoring two runs.

Junior Todd Thompson, who scored two runs, stole two bases and drove in one run, finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a double. Junior Will Fulmer, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. Senior Andrew Hill finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run.

Senior Austin Dubberly finished 1-for-3 at the plate and stole two bases. Senior Jackson Slaid went 1-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run. Freshman Cody Hughes also drove in one run.

The Falcons jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hill doubled down the right-field line before scoring on an RBI single by Thompson. Fulmer drove in Thompson with an RBI double to left center before Rodriguez blasted a two-run shot over the right-field wall to plate the final two runs in the inning.

Montevallo added an insurance run in both the bottom of the sixth inning and bottom of the seventh inning.

Rodriguez reached on an infield single and moved to third base after back-to-back batters were hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly RBI to right field by Hughes.

Thompson plated the final run in the game in the bottom of the seventh inning lining a double to left-center field and stealing third base before coming home on a RBI single by Slaid.

Montevallo will travel to Cleveland, Miss. for a three-game series Feb. 8-10 against Gulf South Conference foe Delta State University, which opened the season ranked No. 1 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) NCAA Division II poll. First pitch in the series opener is set for Feb. 8 at 3 p.m.