FROM STAFF REPORTS

TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Montevallo baseball team made its debut in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll March 11 with a No. 22 ranking in the national poll.

The Falcons (17-7 overall, 9-3 in Peach Belt Conference), who received 136 votes in the latest poll, are one of four Peach Belt Conference schools ranked in the top 30. Montevallo has won 14 of its past 17 games on its way to clinching its first four Peach Belt Conference series for the first time in school history.

Lander University is ranked No. 5 in the latest poll. The Falcons travel to Greenwood, S.C. to face the Bearcats in a three-game series March 23-24.

USC Aiken is ranked No. 13 in the national poll. The Pacers travel to Montevallo for a three-game series against the Falcons on March 29-30.

UNC Pembroke is ranked No. 25 in the latest poll. The Falcons took two-out-of three games against the Braves in a Peach Belt Conference series in late February.

Mount Olive College is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the latest poll. UAH, the Falcons’ next opponent, is ranked No. 9 in the national poll.

Montevallo has won six games in a row. After defeating Young Harris College in the final game of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series March 4, the Falcons defeated Stillman College and Maryville University (Mo.) in non-conference games before sweeping conference foe Flagler College last weekend.

Junior Will Fulmer led the Falcons offensively last week. The 5-foot-10 second baseman from Palm Harbor, Fla. finished 16-of-22 at the plate in the past six games. Fulmer finished the week with a .727 batting average, a .769 on-base percentage and a .909 slugging percentage. Fulmer drove in seven runs and scored 11 runs during the stretch.

Fulmer currently leads the Peach Belt Conference with a .440 batting average and 12 stolen bases.

Senior right-hander Michael Shreves, a 6-foot-3 Bradenton, Fla. native, is among the Peach Belt Conference leaders with four wins this season. Shreves, who is tied for fourth in the conference with four wins, improved to 4-2 on the mound after giving up just two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts in eight innings in a 12-2 win over Flagler College on March 9.

First pitch in the non-conference game against No. 9 UAH is set for Wednesday, March 13 at 6 p.m. at Kermit A. Johnson Field.