Falcons edge Trojans in second consecutive walk-off victory
Published 5:14 pm Thursday, February 28, 2013
MONTEVALLO – Sophomore Zack Willoughby drove in junior Will Fulmer with an RBI single to left field to lift the University of Montevallo baseball team to a 4-3 win over visiting Trevecca Nazarene University in the Falcons’ second walk-off victory in four days Feb. 27 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
The Falcons fought back after surrendering a two-run lead in the top of the eighth inning.
“I thought Alex Guilford was outstanding once again,” said Montevallo coach Chandler Rose. “You have to give credit to Trevecca; they played the game hard and the right way. We are still not hitting the baseball like we are capable and we need some more guys to step up and start getting the job done. We can’t keep relying on our pitchers to hold teams to 3 runs or less every game. We have a lot of games here in a short period of time and hopefully that will help our hitters get going.”
Fulmer led the Falcons (9-6) as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and scored one run in the win.
Willoughby, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a double. Freshman Jeremy Hyde went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run.
Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez, who scored one run, finished 1-for-2 at the plate with a homer. Rodriguez gave the Falcons a 3-1 lead with his blast to deep center field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Seniors Austin Dubberly and Andrew Hill, along with junior Jackson Slaid, each went 1-for-4 at the plate. Freshman Thomas Bradey went 1-for-1 at the plate with a pinch-hit single to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning.
Junior Aron McRee picked up the win after recording the final out in the top of the ninth inning with one pitch.
Junior Alex Guilford started on the mound and allowed two runs, including one earned run, on eight hits with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
Freshman Jake Christensen issued one walk and allowed one unearned run in 1/3 of an inning. Freshman Cody Hughes gave up one hit and issued one walk in 2/3 of an inning. Senior Devon Davis issued one walk in 1/3 of an inning.
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dubberly blasted a line drive that the Trojans’ third baseman couldn’t glove and Hill followed with a line drive off the pitcher for an infield hit. Hyde drove in Dubberly with a RBI single to left field to put the first run on the scoreboard.
Trevecca Nazarene tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning. Blake Rogers reached on a Montevallo error before scoring on a RBI groundout by Cade Seeley.
Montevallo took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Willoughby lined a double to left field before scoring a two-run blast by Rodriguez.
The Trojans tied the game at 3-3 in the top of eighth inning. Tyler Tichenor and Mark Rayburn reached before scoring on an error by Montevallo.
The Falcons earned redemption with the walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth inning. Willoughby provided the game-winning hit as he lined a single to left field to drive in Fulmer.
Montevallo returns to action Thursday, Feb. 28 with a trip to Birmingham to face Miles College in a non-conference game at historic Rickwood Field. First pitch is set for noon.
The Falcons will travel to Young Harris, Ga. on March 2-3 to face Young Harris College in their first road series in Peach Belt Conference play. First pitch in the series opener is set for March 2 at 1 p.m.