FROM STAFF REPORTS

University of Montevallo junior Kameron Heiser scattered eight hits in eight innings and allowed just two runs to pick up his second win of the season in the Falcons’ 5-2 win over UNC-Pembroke in the final game of a Peach Belt Conference series March 5.

Heiser (2-0) struck out four batters and walked just two in the win.

Senior Wes Rich, a Pelham High School graduate, came in and pitched the final inning for the Falcons, who improved to 10-9 overall and 6-4 in Peach Belt Conference games. Rich struck out two while allowing just one hit to record his second save of the season. The win moved the Falcons back to the top of the Peach Belt Conference West Division and gave them their second-straight conference series win.

At the plate, the Falcons were led by freshman Zack Willougby, who was 3-for-4 with a double, a homerun, two RBIs, a run scored and a hit by pitch.

Senior Heath Peterson was 2-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and a hit by pitch, while junior Andrew Hill, a Pelham High School graduate, went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Senior Blaine Rosenberg, an Oak Mountain High School graduate, was the only other Montevallo player with more than one hit as he was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Freshman Vinny Rodriguez also picked up an RBI as he went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored.

Montevallo struck first in the third inning as Willoughby hit a solo homerun to put the Falcons ahead 1-0. The Braves responded with a run of their own in the bottom half to knot things at 1-1.

Montevallo took control of the game in the next inning as junior Austin Dubberly, a Pelham High School graduate, drew a walk followed by a strikeout and a walk by Peterson to open the inning. With runners on first and second, Rosenberg hit a single through the right side to score Dubberly. During the next at bat Peterson was caught stealing to give the Falcons two outs. Sophomore Alec Stiver drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Hill singled up the middle to score Rosenberg, and then Willoughby singled to right field to score Rodriguez, who had come on to pinch run for Stiver. The inning ended with a bases-loaded strikeout.

Montevallo tacked on its final run in the fifth inning as Rodriguez hit an RBI single to left field to score Peterson, who had reached on a two-out single.

The Braves’ only other run came in the eighth inning as the Falcons’ pitchers shut down the nationally-ranked Braves.

The Falcons will return to action March 6 at 5 p.m. as they host Southern Indiana.