FROM STAFF REPORTS

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The University of Montevallo baseball team split a doubleheader against Young Harris College to clinch its third consecutive Peach Belt Conference series March 4 at Zell B. Miller Field.

The Falcons defeated the Mountain Lions 9-7 in the final game of the three-game series after dropping the first game of the doubleheader 3-2.

“Anytime you win a conference series, it’s a good weekend, especially on the road,” said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. “However, we have to learn to be more consistent in our approach and energy every time we take the field. We didn’t play with the same focus today as yesterday and that’s something that has to improve.”

Senior Andrew Hill led Montevallo (12-7 overall, 6-3 in Peach Belt Conference) as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer. Hill drove in four runs and scored one run in the victory.

Junior Will Fulmer finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and scored two runs. Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez, who drove in one run and scored three runs, went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double.

Senior Austin Dubberly, who drove in one run and scored two runs, finished 2-for-5 at the plate. Junior Jackson Slaid went 2-for-5 at the plate and drove in three runs. Freshman Josh Floyd finished 1-for-1 at the plate, while fellow freshman Thomas Bradey finished 1-for-4 at the plate. Freshman Jeremy Hyde scored one run in the win.

Junior starter Edward Brandsema (2-2) picked up the win on the mound after giving up just two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings of action.

Freshman Jake Christensen allowed one hit and finished with one strikeout in one inning in relief. Senior Devon Davis allowed three earned runs on three hits with one strikeout in 2/3 of an inning.

Freshman closer Cody Hughes picked up his fourth save of the season after giving up one earned run on two hits with one strikeout and one walk in 1 1/3 innings in relief.

The Falcons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the final game of the series. Fulmer led off the game with an infield single before scoring on a RBI double down the left-field line by Rodriguez. Dubberly, who reached on a Young Harris error, and Rodriguez came around to score on a two-run single to center field by Slaid.

Montevallo added three more runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. Fulmer led off with a double down the left-field line before scoring on a RBI single by Slaid. Dubberly, who singled to center field, and Rodriguez, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score on a two-run single by Hill.

Young Harris cut the deficit to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Trey Rogers, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score on a RBI single up the middle by Jack Morrow before Adam Moore scored on a Montevallo error.

Each team plated one run in the fourth inning. Hyde, who reached on a walk, scored on a RBI single to right field by Dubberly in the top half of the frame. Zach Bricknell blasted a solo homer to right-center field in the bottom of the inning for the Mountain Lions.

The Falcons took a 9-3 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Rodriguez led off with a single to center field before scoring on a two-run blast over the left-field wall by Hill. Hill’s homer was his second of the season.

Young Harris cut the deficit to 9-6 with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Moore and David Atwood led off the inning with back-to-back singles before scoring on a three-run homer over the left-field wall by Morrow.

The Mountain Lions plated a final run in the bottom of the ninth inning to trim the Falcons’ lead to 9-7 when Wyshinski led off with a double down the right-field line before scoring on a Montevallo error, but Hughes was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

Montevallo fell to Young Harris 3-2 in the second game in the series.

Hill and Bradey led the Falcons as each finished 2-for-5 at the plate.

Dubberly went 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in one run. Fulmer finished 1-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Senior Pablo Martell, who scored one run, junior Todd Thompson and Slaid each went 1-for-4 at the plate.

Rodriguez finished 1-for-5 at the plate and drove in one run.

Junior starter Josh Clemen (1-2) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six innings on the mound.

Freshman Aron McRee gave up one hit and allowed one walk in 2/3 of an inning. Davis struck out one batter in 1 1/3 innings in relief.

Young Harris took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning following a solo homer by Adam Moore.

The Falcons tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Martell led off with a single up the middle, moved to second base on a bunt single by Thompson, advanced to third on a groundout by Fulmer and scored on a Young Harris error.

Montevallo took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Fulmer led off with a single to right field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Dubberly before scoring on a RBI double to left field by Rodriguez.

The Mountain Lions plated the final two runs in the game in the bottom half of the frame to grab the come-from-behind victory. Tom Valichka singled to left field before Bricknell blasted a two-run shot over the right-field wall to seal the victory for Young Harris.

The Falcons couldn’t take advantage of a single by Dubberly in the eighth inning and a double by Bradey in the ninth inning to plate the game-tying run.

Montevallo returns to action Thursday, March 7 with a home game against non-conference opponent Maryville University (Mo.) at Kermit A. Johnson Field.

First pitch is set for 5 p.m.