FROM STAFF REPORTS

MONTEVALLO – University of Montevallo freshman Dustin Cowart pitched a gem as the Falcons continued their recent dominance of in-state op ponents with a 5-2 win over UAH in a battle of nationally-ranked teams March 5 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.

The Falcons, ranked No. 18 in the latest College Baseball Lineup NCAA Division II poll, have now won 15 consecutive games against in-state opponents dating back to the beginning of the 2013 season.

Cowart (3-0) carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and allowed just two earned runs on one hit with four walks in 6 1/3 innings on the mound against the Chargers, who entered the contest ranked No. 25 in the latest College Baseball Lineup NCAA Division II poll.

Sophomore Aron McRee, the third reliever for the Falcons behind freshman Joey Hume and senior Ed Brandsema, picked up his third save of the season after giving up just one hit and striking out two in the ninth inning. Hume and Brandsema combined for 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Sophomore Chase Bryant led the Falcons (13-6) offensively as he finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Bryant drove in one run and scored one run in the victory.

Freshman Dane Hutcheon finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Senior Will Fulmer, who drove in two runs and scored one run, went 1-for-4 at the plate. Senior Jackson Slaid, who leads all NCAA Division II hitters with eight home runs this season, went 1-for-2 at the plate and drove in two runs. Junior Vinny Rodriguez finished 1-for-4 at the plate.

Junior Zack Willoughby and freshman Brandon Marshall scored one run each in the victory.

The Falcons jumped out to a 4-0 win in the bottom of the second inning. Willoughby led off the inning with a walk before scoring on a RBI single to center field by Chase Bryant. Marshall, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score on a single through the right side of the infield by Fulmer.

Bryant and Marshall scored on a two-run single to cap the Falcons’ offense in the inning.

Montevallo pushed its lead to 5-0 with one run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hutcheon, who singled to right center in the frame, scored on a sacrifice fly by Fulmer.

Chris Brown singled to left center to break up Cowart’s no-hit bid in the top of the seventh inning and the Chargers plated two runs in the frame to trim the deficit to 5-2, but Brandsema and McRee combined to close out the game with two scoreless innings to seal the victory.