FROM STAFF REPORTS

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The University of Montevallo baseball team took the first two games of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series on the road at the University of North Georgia in a doubleheader April 20.

The Falcons, who entered the series ranked No. 27 in the latest College Baseball Lineup NCAA Division II poll, defeated the Saints 6-1 in each game.

Montevallo (29-15 overall, 15-11 in Peach Belt Conference) will try for a series sweep in the third and final game of the series Sunday, April 21. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CST.

“The difference today was our pitching and defense,” said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. “Michael Shreves and Alex Guilford were awesome and Aron McRee really stepped up out of the pen in the first game. We played fantastic defense all day, which really helped those guys settle in. Offensively, we left a lot of runners and at bats out there. We have to focus better at the plate and cash in on the opportunities we get. Overall, it was a great day but we have to stay focused for tomorrow.”

Freshman Thomas Bradey led the Falcons in the series opener as he finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a solo homer. Bradey drove in one run and scored two runs in the victory.

Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 2-for-4 at the plate with a solo homer. Junior Will Fulmer, who drove in two runs and scored one run, finished 1-for-3 at the plate.

Senior Austin Dubberly went 1-for-2 at the plate. Junior Jackson Slaid drove in one run, while  sophomoreChad Collum and freshman Jeremy Hyde scored one run each.

Senior starter Michael Shreves (7-4) picked up the win on the mound after giving up just one earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.

Freshman Brandon Marshall relieved Shreves and allowed one walk without recording an out before giving way to fellow freshman Aron McRee, who allowed just two hits and finished with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in relief.

The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Bradey provided the first hit in the game with a solo blast over the left-field wall.

Montevallo pushed its lead to 3-0 after plating a pair of runners later in the inning. Hyde, who reached on a walk, and Collum, who reached on an error, came around to score on a two-run single to right field by Fulmer.

North Georgia scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 3-1 when Naraine was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before scoring on a RBI single to right field by Gearhart.

The Falcons added a run in the top of the fifth inning to push their lead to 4-1 when Fulmer, who reached on a walk, came around to score on a RBI sacrifice fly to left field by Slaid. Montevallo took a 5-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning after Bradey, who reached on a walk, scored on a fielder’s choice RBI by Fulmer.

The Falcons scored another run in the top of the seventh inning to push their lead to 6-1 when Rodriguez led off the inning with a solo homer over the right-field wall.

Rodriguez led the Falcons offensively as he went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs in the nightcap.

Marshall finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Dubberly, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 1-for-3 at the plate. Slaid, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Fulmer finished 1-for-2 at the plate and scored two runs. Senior Andrew Hill finished 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and drove in one run. Simmons went 1-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run.

Bradey and Hyde, who scored one run in the win, each finished 1-for-4 at the plate.

Junior Alex Guilford picked up the win on the mound after pitching his first complete game of the season. Guilford (7-3) gave up just one earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk in the victory.

North Georgia took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in the second game of the doubleheader. Spivey, who led off the inning with a double to right-center field, scored on a passed ball later in the inning.

The Falcons took a 2-1 lead after plating a pair of runs in the top of the third inning.

Fulmer led off the inning with a single to center field before scoring on a RBI sacrifice fly to right field by Slaid. Dubberly, who singled through the right side in the inning, came around to score on a RBI single through the right side by Simmons,

Montevallo pushed its lead to 5-1 with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Marshall, who singled up the middle, scored on a RBI sacrifice fly to right field by Dubberly. Hyde, who singled to right field, and Fulmer, who reached on a walk, scored on a two-run single by Rodriguez.

The Falcons took a 6-1 lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning when Slaid led off with a double down the right-field line before scoring on a RBI double to left-center field by Hill.