FROM STAFF REPORTS

For the second-straight outing, University of Montevallo junior Michael Shreves led the Falcons to a one-run victory on the mound against Columbus State in a 4-3 win in the opening game of the Peach Belt Conference series March 31.

However, the Falcons (17-16 overall, 11-8 in Peach Belt Conference) dropped the final two games of the series April 1 against Columbus State.

Shreves pitched the Falcons’ first complete game of the season as he went nine innings with five strikeouts, no walks, scattered eight hits and allowed just three runs.

Freshman Zack Willoughby provided three of the Falcons four RBI with a two-run homerun in the seventh to tie the game at three and then a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth to give the Falcons a 4-3 lead. Willoughby was 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, a homerun, a run scored, a walk and a sacrifice fly. He also stole a base in the game.

Senior Heath Peterson provided the Falcons only other RBI with a solo homerun in the sixth that opened the Falcons scoring. He was 1-for-4 at the plate with a homerun, a run scored and an RBI.

Sophomore Alec Stiver was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Stiver’s double came in the ninth inning with the game tied at three. He led off the inning with a double and then was pinch ran for by senior Kirk Waligora. Waligora advanced to third on a groundout by freshman Cody White and then Willoughby hit a fly ball to right field which allowed Waligora to score.

Shreves then set the side down in order in the bottom of the ninth with a fly out, a groundout and then a game-clinching strikeout.

The Cougars scored three runs over the first two innings with two in the first and one in the third but head coach Chandler Rose kept faith in Shreves and Shreves did not disappoint as he allowed just four hits the rest of the game including holding the Cougars hitless over the final three innings.

The Cougars took game one of a doubleheader April 1, 16-0, before edging the Falcons in the final game of the series 7-5.

Montevallo was led by sophomore Will Fulmer on the day as he went 5-for-9 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base. Senior Heath Peterson went 3-for-8 with a double, a hit by pitch and a team-high three RBIs.

Freshmen Zack Willoughby and Cody White each went 2-for-6. Willoughby had a double, an RBI and two runs scored while White added a stolen base and a walk. Junior Vincente Andrews also had a pair of hits as he went 2-for-8 with a run scored.

On the mound, junior Kameron Heiser took the loss in game one as he went 5.0 innings with four strikeouts and four walks. He allowed nine hits, 10 runs including eight earned. His record fell to 2-4 on the year. Sophomore Alex Guilford took the loss in game two while pitching 4.0 innings with two strikeouts and a walk. He allowed seven hits and five runs while his record fell to 2-4.

Montevallo never got the offense going in game one as the Cougars scored 16 runs on 17 hits while the Falcons only mustered four hits the entire game.