FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo baseball team closed out the 2012 regular season with a 15-11 loss to Stillman College at home May 4.

Paul Winterbottom and Trent Posey, a pair of Calera High School graduates, helped Stillman College even the regular season series between the two teams this season.

Winterbottom finished 1-for-5 at the plate and drove in two runs for the Tigers, while Posey went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored a pair of runs.

Montevallo (24-26) was led by junior Andrew Hill, a Pelham High School graduate, who was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. Hill also had a stolen base.

Four other Falcons went 2-for-4 in the game, including freshman Vinny Rodriguez, senior Blaine Rosenberg, an Oak Mountain High School graduate, and seniors Chris Ross and Austin Dubberly, both Pelham High School graduates.

Junior Vincente Andrews finished 2-for-5 at the plate.

Rodriguez added a run scored and an RBI, Rosenberg had a run scored, a homerun, a hit by pitch and a team-high three RBI. Ross had a pair of doubles, a run scored, a walk and two RBI. Dubberly added two runs scored, an RBI and a walk while Andrews had a run scored.

On the mound, the Falcons used seven different pitchers as they prepare for the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, which starts May 9.

Junior Michael Shreves got the start and went 2.0 innings with a strikeout and a walk. He allowed three hits and four runs including just one earned. Junior Devon Davis took home the loss as he pitched 1.0 inning with a walk. He allowed four hits and four runs as his record fell to 2-3 on the year. Sophomore Alex Guiford had the most successful outing as he went 1.0 inning with a walk and a hit allowed.

The Falcons fell behind early as the Tigers scored a run in the first and three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead.

UM responded in the third as the Falcons scored six runs to take the lead. Dubberly led off the inning with a single to right centerfield. Rosenberg then hit a homerun to right centerfield to cut the lead to just two. Hill followed with a double to right field. After a strikeout and a groundout, senior Heath Peterson hit a single to third base to score Hill and cut the lead to one. After a stolen base by Peterson, Ross hit a double down the right field line to score Peterson and tie the game.

After a hit by pitch by freshman Zack Willoughby, Rodriguez hit an RBI single to right field to give the Falcons a 5-4 lead. Dubberly then singled for the second time in the inning to score Willoughby and put the Falcons ahead by two.

The Tigers answered with three runs in the fourth to take a 7-6 lead but the Falcons had the answer in the bottom half. Hill led off the inning with a single up the middle and then he stole second and advanced to third on an error. Sophomore Will Fulmer then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game. Andrews then singled through the right side and was brought home by another Ross double.

The Tigers retook the lead for good in the fifth as they scored five runs. They tacked on another runs in the sixth to take a 13-8 lead. Montevallo mounted a comeback in the seventh as Rosenberg hit a base loaded single to score senior Josh Headley. Hill then doubled to score Dubberly and Rodriguez but that would be it as the Falcons trailed 13-11.

The Tigers added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth and Montevallo was unable to score anymore runs as the Falcons fell 15-11.

The Falcons will return to action Wednesday, May 9 at 8 a.m. as they travel to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament to face USC-Aiken in the opening round.