FROM STAFF REPORTS

TUSCALOOSA  – The University of Montevallo baseball team plated four runs in the fifth inning on its way to a 8-4 win over Stillman College in a non-conference game on the road March 6.

The Falcons got another strong start from junior Alex Guilford, who improved to 3-0 on the season after giving up just two runs on five hits through eight innings. Guilford, who retired 12 straight hitters at one point in the game, finished with five strikeouts and just one walk.

The victory marked a season sweep of the Tigers, who advanced to the NCAA Division II South Region championship game a year ago. Montevallo defeated Stillman College 6-0 in its home opener Feb. 6.

“This is a good regional win on the road,” said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. “Guilford was fantastic again today. We had some clutch hits and made some nice adjustments at the plate throughout the game.”

Senior Will Fulmer led the Falcons (13-7) with three hits and scored three runs in the victory. Junior Jackson Slaid added a pair of doubles and drove in two runs in the win.

Montevallo racked up eight runs on 15 hits in the victory.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the fifth inning, Montevallo scored four runs off three different Stillman pitchers to take a 5-1 lead. Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez broke the tie with an infield ground out and senior Andrew Hillfollowed with an RBI single to give the Falcons a two-run lead. Sophomore Chad Collum capped the inning with a two-run single to push Montevallo in front 5-1.

Slaid added a two-run double in the sixth inning as the Falcons built a 7-1 lead.

Montevallo added an insurance run in the eighth inning when senior Austin Dubberly stroked a leadoff double and scored on Hill’s two-out single.

Stillman College scored single runs in both the second and sixth innings. Brad Sevenish drove in the first run with a two-out single in the second inning. In the sixth inning, Kameron McCreless ripped a two-out triple to center and scored on Fernando Tanaka’s base hit.

Stillman College scored a pair of runs in the ninth inning as the Tigers took advantage of a pair of errors by the Falcons.

Montevallo returns to action Thursday, March 7 with a non-conference game against Maryville University (Mo.) at Kermit A. Johnson Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.