FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo baseball team gave up four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning in a 7-6 loss to the University of West Alabama on the road March 16.

Montevallo led 6-3 heading into the ninth inning and had allowed just five hits in the entire game. The Tigers produced six hits in the final inning, which led to four runs and gave West Alabama a 7-6 victory.

The Falcons (11-12) were led by senior Josh Dabbs, who was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, three RBIs and a home run.

Junior Blaine Rosenberg, an Oak Mountain graduate, was also 2-for-4 with an RBI. Junior Heath Peterson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a double. Junior Chris Ross, a Pelham graduate, and freshman Will Fulmer provided the only other RBI for the Falcons as they had one each. Ross also added a pair of stolen bases.

Sophomore Devon Davis started the game for the Falcons on the mound and went 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and three walks. Davis allowed just four hits and three runs. Senior Scott Deason, a Spain Park graduate, took the loss after pitching just 2/3 of an inning while giving up five hits and four runs.

The Tigers jumped on the board first after scoring a pair of runs in the first inning off of two hits. Neither team scored in the second, third or fourth innings before West Alabama was able to add one more run in the fifth inning.

The Falcons finally broke through in the seventh inning with three runs to tie the game.

Junior Josh Headley led off the inning with a single before Dabbs launched a ball over the right-field fence to cut the lead to just one run. Fulmer then reached on a single and was sacrificed to second. After a groundout, Fulmer moved to third base and eventually scored on an RBI single by Ross.

Montevallo took over the game in the eighth inning as the Falcons tacked on three more runs.

Dabbs started the scoring with an RBI single to right field, which scored Peterson. Headley then scored on an RBI by Fulmer. The final run came as Dabbs crossed the plate on an RBI single by Rosenberg.

The Falcons were unable to score any runs in the ninth inning, which led into the final half-inning drama.

The Tigers opened up the inning with back-to-back singles and a stolen base. West Alabama then had back-to-back groundouts, which scored a single run. The Tigers responded with four straight singles, which ended the game as three runners crossed the plate to give West Alabama the victory.