FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo baseball team split a doubleheader with USC Aiken in the first two games of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series March 29 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.

The Falcons, who are ranked No. 28 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll, defeated No. 6 USC Aiken 12-10 in the opening game of the series before dropping the second game of the doubleheader 10-6.

The two teams will wrap up the series Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m.

Montevallo (22-12 overall, 12-8 in Peach Belt Conference) pounded out 12 runs on 18 hits in its 12-10 win over the Pacers in the first game of the doubleheader.

Junior Jackson Slaid led the Falcons offensively in the series opener after finishing 3-for-5 at the plate. Slaid drove in one run and scored two runs in the victory.

Freshman Michael Simmons went 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of doubles and drove in three runs. FreshmanJeremy Hyde entered the game as a pinch-hitter and finished 2-for-2 at the plate while driving in two runs. Freshman Brandon Marshall went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored one run.

Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs. Senior Andrew Hill went 2-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs.

Sophomore Zack Willoughby, who drove in three runs and scored two runs, finished 1-for-4 at the plate with a homer. Senior Austin Dubberly drove in one run and scored one run, while junior Todd Thompson drove in one run. Pinch-runner Josh Floyd scored one run in the win.

Senior starter Michael Shreves improved to 6-3 on the mound this season after picking up the win. Shreves, who allowed seven earned runs on 12 hits, finished with five strikeouts and three walks in seven innings of action.

Freshman Aron McRee allowed one hit in 1/3 of an inning in relief and senior Devon Davis struck out one batter without allowing a hit in 1/3 of an inning.

Junior Ed Brandsema recorded his first save of the season after giving up three earned runs on three hits with one walk in 1 1/3 innings in relief.

USC Aiken took a 1-0 lead in the series opener in the top of the third inning. Branden Millhouse was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Millhouse advanced to second base on a groundout by Miller and moved to third base on a single up the middle by Bryce Baur before scoring on a sacrifice fly to right field by Bill Gerstenslager.

The Falcons answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Dubberly, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and Rodriguez, who singled up the middle, came around to score on a three-run homer by Willoughby over the left-field wall.

Montevallo plated six runs with the entire lineup making a plate appearance in the bottom of the fourth inning to push its lead to 9-1.

Hill led off the inning with a single through the right side and advanced to third base on a single by Marshall before scoring on a RBI single by Fulmer. Marshall came around to score on a sacrifice bunt by Dubberly before Fulmer scored on a RBI single through the right side by Slaid.

Rodriguez and Willoughby each reached on a walk before coming around to score, along with Slaid, on a three-run double to right field by Simmons to cap the six-run inning for the Falcons.

The Pacers cut the deficit to 9-4 with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Millhouse, who singled to center field, advanced to second base on a base hit by Baur and scored on a RBI single by Gerstenslag. Baur came around to score on a RBI infield single by Ty Barkell and J.J. Loker plated Gerstenslag with a RBI single to left field.

USC Aiken trimmed the deficit to 9-7 with three runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Loker and Ryan Metzler each singled in the inning before Ben Donath reached on a walk. All three base runners came around to score on a three-run triple to right-center field by Sean Miller.

The Falcons added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning to push their lead to 10-7. Hill, who led off with a single to right-center field, advanced to second base on a balk and moved to third base on a bunt single by Hyde before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Thompson.

Montevallo pushed its lead to 12-7 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Slaid, who led off with a single up the middle, and Simmons, who singled through the left side, came around to score on a two-run single by Hyde.

The Pacers plated three runs in the top of the ninth inning.  Pinch runner Tyler Moore scored on a RBI double to right field by Sean Miller. Miller and Morehouse, who singled up the middle, came around to score on a two-run double down the left-field line by Josh Miller. Brandsema got out of the inning after limiting the damage to three runs when Baur flied out to Thompson in center field.

The Pacers overcame an early 3-1 deficit to defeat Montevallo 10-6 in the nightcap.

Slaid and Thompson, who each drove in one run and scored one run, each finished 2-for-4 at the plate.

Willoughby finished 1-for-4 at the plate with a triple and drove in two runs. Rodriguez went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and scored one run. Hyde finished 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and scored one run.

Fulmer, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 1-for-4 at the plate. Hill also went 1-for-4 at the plate. Dubberly finished 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in one run, while sophomore Chad Collum scored one run.

Junior starter Alex Guilford took the loss on the mound after giving up five runs, including four earned runs, on 12 hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings on the mound.

Freshman Jake Christensen allowed two runs, including one earned run, on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in 1 1/3 innings on the mound. McRee gave up three unearned runs on one hit with two strikeouts and one walk in one inning in relief. Marshall pitched a perfect inning in relief.

Montevallo took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the second game of the doubleheader. Fulmer reached on a walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Dubberly before scoring on a RBI single down the right-field line by Slaid.

USC Aiken tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Ben Donath led off the inning with a single up the middle, advanced to second base on a single by Ryan Metzler and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by John Fidanza before scoring on a Montevallo fielding error.

The Falcons took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Rodriguez led off the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a single through the left side by Slaid. Both base runners came around to score on a two-run triple down the right-field line by Willoughby.

The Pacers knotted the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Bryce Baur led off the inning with a single up the middle before scoring on a double to  left-center field by Donath. Donath came around to score on a RBI single through the right side of the infield by Fidanza.

USC Aiken scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Branden Millhouse led off the inning with a single and advanced to third base on a double down the right-field line by Baur. Both base runners scored on a two-run single by Bill Gerstenslager.

The Pacers pushed their lead to 7-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Metzler led off the inning with a single up the middle before scoring on a Montevallo error. Fidanza, who reached on a single, scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Millhouse.

The Falcons plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 7-6.

Collum was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before scoring on a RBI single by Thompson. Hyde, who had a double in the inning, scored on a RBI single by Fulmer. Thompson came around to score on a RBI sacrifice fly by Dubberly.

USC Aiken scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to push its lead to 10-6.

Metzler reached on a walk before scoring on a passed ball. Sean Miller, who reached on a single, scored on a RBI single up the middle by Millhouse. Millhouse scored later in the inning on an error by the Falcons.