FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo baseball team made it three wins in a row against ranked opponents as the Falcons defeated the University of Southern Indiana twice in a doubleheader Feb. 26.

The Falcons (8-5) took game one 2-1 and won game two 7-2 against the Screaming Eagles, who are the defending NCAA Division II National Champions. Southern Indiana entered the series ranked No. 24 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II poll.

Montevallo was led by senior Scottie Deason, a Spain Park graduate who went 4-for-7 at the plate with a run scored. Deason also pitched 1 2/3 innings in game one and picked up his third save of the season.

Sophomore Devon Davis led the Falcons with three RBIs, all of which came in game two when he hit a bases-clearing three-run double in the eighth inning. Junior Josh Headley had two RBIs and was 2-for-5 at the plate. Freshman Alec Stiver was the catcher in game two and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.

Sophomore pitcher Will Dismukes took home the win in game one and improved his record to 2-2 this season. Dismukes pitched 7 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking just two. He scattered six hits over seven innings and allowed just one run. Deason pitched the final 1 2/3 innings while allowing three hits but no runs.

In game two, senior Joey Noro took home the win and improved his record to 2-0 on the season. Noro pitched six innings while striking out three and walking just one. He scattered five hits over six innings and allowed just one run. Freshman Edward Brandsema pitched the next 1/3 of an inning while walking two and allowing a run.

The final pitcher in game two was junior Wes Rich, a Pelham graduate, who pitched 2 2/3 innings while striking out three and allowing just one hit. Rich was credited with his first save of the season.

Southern Indiana jumped on the scoreboard first in game one by taking a 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Montevallo responded in the third inning as junior Chris Ross, a Pelham graduate, tripled to right-center field to lead off the inning. Headley was the next to bat and hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Ross and tie the game at 1-1. Montevallo finally took the lead in the seventh inning, as freshman Will Fulmer sent a one-out double down the left-field line. Ross then hit a single up the middle and Fulmer scored on an error by the shortstop. The Falcons’ pitching staff was able to do the rest to preserve the victory.

In game two, the Falcons struck first in the top of the first inning.

Headley drew a walk. Deason hit a bunt single to move Headley to second. Junior Jeremy Boyte then hit a bunt single to move Headley to third but Deason was thrown out at second. Sophomore Austin Dubberly, a Pelham graduate, hit a two-out single through the left side to score Headley and give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

The Screaming Eagles responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning and the score remained 1-1 until the fifth inning, where the Falcons tacked on two more runs.

After a fly out to begin the inning, Ross hit a single up the middle. Stiver then singled to center field, moving Ross to third. Headley hit an RBI single to right field to score Ross and move Stiver to third. Stiver then scored on a wild pitch to give Montevallo a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Southern Indiana cut the lead to just one run as the Southern Eagles scored a run to make it 3-2.

Montevallo immediately responded in the top of the eighth inning. Deason singled to left field to lead off the inning. After a pitching change, Deason advanced to second on a wild pitch. Boyte then hit an RBI single to centerfield to score Deason. Boyte advanced to second when the Screaming Eagles tried to throw out Deason at home.

After another pitching change, senior Josh Dabbs drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Dubberly then hit a bunt single that moved both runners and loaded the bags for Davis. Davis hit a three-run double to right-center field, but was thrown out trying to advance to third.

Rich shut down the Screaming Eagles in the final two innings. Rich allowed one hit in the eighth inning and sat down the side in the ninth inning to preserve the win.

The Falcons will return to action Feb. 27 at noon as they continue their three-game series with Southern Indiana.