FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo baseball team dropped its first Peach Belt Conference series of the season March 16 after falling to visiting Columbus State University in the final two games of the series at Kermit A. Johnson Field.

The Falcons, who entered the series ranked No. 22 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll, dropped the opening game of the doubleheader 11-5 before falling to the Cougars 25-3 in the final game of the series.

“It was a really tough day at the yard,” said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. “We didn’t do much right for eighteen innings. Today was very uncharacteristic of our team. We need to regroup and get ready for the five big games we have next week.”

Senior Andrew Hill led Montevallo (19-9 overall, 10-5 in Peach Belt Conference) offensively in the opener as he finished 4-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs.

Freshman Thomas Bradey went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and scored one run. Sophomore Pablo Martell went 2-for-2 at the plate and drove in one run. Junior Jackson Slaid finished 2-for-5 at the plate and scored one run.

Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez went 1-for-4 at the plate with a solo homer. Fellow sophomore Chad Collum went 1-for-3 at the plate, while junior Todd Thompson finished 2-for-5 at the plate and drove in a pair of runs.

Junior starter Josh Clemen (2-3) picked up the loss after giving up five runs, including four earned runs, with three strikeouts and three walks in 6 2/3 innings on the mound. The Falcons used five different pitchers in the first game of the doubleheader.

Montevallo used six different pitchers in the 25-3 loss to the Cougars in the nightcap. Junior starter Edward Brandsema (2-3) took the loss after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts in three innings of action.

Hill led the Falcons offensively as he finished 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in a pair of runs.

Freshman Jeremy Hyde finished 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in one run, while senior Austin Dubberly went 1-for-3 at the plate and scored one run.

Thompson went 1-for-2 at the plate, while Bradey finished 1-for-3 at the plate. Juniors Will Fulmer and Jackson Slaid scored one run each.

The Falcons return to action Tuesday, March 19 in the first game of a two-game series on the road at the University of Southern Indiana. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.