FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo baseball team will take on a challenging 50-game schedule in 2013, highlighted by a three-game series against NCAA Division II College World Series runner-up Delta State University in its non-conference slate.

The Falcons will play their first eight games on the road in the first two weeks of the season.

“Once again we will be playing one of the toughest schedules in the country,” said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. “We have two tough road trips to start the season, which will help prepare us for the grind of the conference schedule. It should be a fun and challenging slate for our players.”

The Falcons will open the season with a three-game series Feb. 1-3 on the road at St. Leo University in St. Leo, Fla.

Following a midweek game Feb. 5 on the road at Stillman College, Montevallo will travel to Cleveland, Miss. for a three-game series Feb. 8-10 against Delta State, which played West Chester in the NCAA Division II national championship game a year ago.

The Falcons will travel to Livingston to face the University of West Alabama in a midweek game Feb. 13 before hosting its first home games of the season Feb. 16-17 in a three-game series against Georgia Southwestern State University in Peach Belt Conference action.

The series against Georgia Southwestern State kicks off a 30-game Peach Belt Conference schedule, which also includes home series against UNC Pembroke, Flagler College, Columbus State University and USC Aiken.

Montevallo will host its final home game of the season April 24 against West Alabama. The Falcons conclude the regular season with a three-game series April 27-28 against Georgia College.

Rose led the Falcons to their first winning season in Peach Belt Conference play with a 16-14 mark during the 2012 season. Overall, the Falcons ended the season with a 25-28 record. The Falcons won four conference series, including their first two sweeps in Peach Belt Conference action over nationally ranked Francis Marion University and Augusta State University.

Montevallo finished second in the Peach Belt Conference West Division, which was the highest finish ever for the Falcons in the conference and is the highest overall finish since 2007 when the Falcons finished second in the Gulf South Conference East Division.