SPECIAL TO THE REPORTER

A single by B.J. Holloway with bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be the difference maker as No. 22 University of Montevallo won the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament Sunday.

The Falcons are regional champions and will advance to the national championship series, to be played this week in Montgomery.

Montevallo rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 7-4, to pull out the 9-8 victory over the University of Incarnate Word.

Against UIW, four Falcons, Brantly Clay, Daniel Tankersley, Travis Fultz and Daniel Furuto collected three base hits each. Fultz also drove in two runs.

Zach Andrews went the final two innings on the mound for UM, and struck out UIW catcher Chris Solis looking, for the final out of the game.

In the four games played in Abilene, Texas, Montevallo outscored its opponents 55-14.

Batting .412 as a team, UM collected 63 base hits in wins over the University of West Alabama, Southern Arkansas University (twice) and UIW.

After the game Sunday, Daniel Furuto was named tournament MVP while five Falcons were named to the all-tournament team: Daniel Tankersley, Dave Nanney, Travis Fultz, Brantly Clay and Rusty Mask.

UM (41-16) will meet West Chester University (38-18)

in a first-round game, Saturday night at 6:33 at Paterson Field.

Montevallo is one of eight teams still playing for a national championship