FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo baseball team is ranked in the College Baseball Lineup NCAA Division II poll for the first time this season after clinching a Peach Belt Conference series against USC Aiken over the weekend.

The Falcons are ranked No. 19 in the latest poll, which was released April 1.

Montevallo (23-12 overall, 13-8 in Peach Belt Conference) defeated the Pacers 12-10 in the series opener March 29 before picking up a 6-1 win over USC Aiken in the final game of the series March 30.

The Falcons are one of four Peach Belt Conference schools ranked in the top 25 in the poll.

Lander University is ranked No. 2 in the national poll, while the Pacers are ranked No. 6 in the poll.

UNC Pembroke is ranked No. 14 in the most recent poll, followed by the Falcons at No. 19.

UAH, which hosts Montevallo in the final game of a home-and-away series this season April 3, is ranked No. 11 in the latest poll.

The website mentioned the Falcons’ difficult schedule in its decision to rank Montevallo among the top 20 teams nationally in NCAA Division II.

“Montevallo (23-12) has been on the rankings peripheral all season long and finally broke through in a big way after winning two of three over USC Aiken,” the website stated. “UM also has wins over UNC Pembroke, Alabama-Huntsville and Lander this season. The Falcons could make another jump as UAH is on this week’s schedule once again.”

The complete poll is available online at http://www.collegebaseballlineup.com/interwebs/dii-rankings-apr01/#more-1057.