FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo baseball team fell to .500 on the season following an 8-4 loss at home to North Georgia College and State University in the final game of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series April 15.

The Falcons honored eight seniors prior to the game, including Pelham High School graduates Chris Ross and Wes Rich and Oak Mountain High School graduate Blaine Rosenberg. Montevallo also honored Josh Headley, Kirk Waligora, Duston Daugherty, Drew Boyer and Heath Peterson.

Headley led the Falcons (21-21, 15-12 in Peach Belt Conference) on the day as he went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Daugherty went 2-for-4 with a walk while five other Falcons registered one hit each. Peterson and Ross each had an RBI in the game as well.

Sophomore Alex Guilford got the start for the Falcons and went 6.0 innings while striking out two and walking one. He allowed 12 hits and seven runs. Freshman Chase Cameron pitched the next 2.0 innings while allowing a pair of hits and a run. Boyer closed out the game pitching the final inning with a strikeout, a walk and one hit allowed.

NGCSU scored three runs in the first and added two more in the fifth. UM finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as junior Austin Dubberly, a Pelham High School graduate, Headley and sophomore Alec Stiver opened the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles. With the bases loaded the next batter grounded into a double play but Headley scored on the play to cut the lead to 5-1.

The Saints added three more in the seventh to take an 8-1 lead. UM tried to mount a comeback in the eighth as they scored three runs. Daugherty opened the inning with a single.

After a fielder’s choice, junior Vincente Andrews hit a double down the right field line to make it second and third with one out. Peterson hit a groundout to the pitcher but the runner on third came home to score UM’s first run of the inning. With two outs, Ross hit an RBI single through the right side to score Andrews. Headley then hit an RBI double to left center to score Ross but a groundout ended the inning with the Falcons down 8-4.

Montevallo was unable to get a hit in the ninth as the game ended with the Saints up 8-4.