Montevallo defeats Autauga Academy, Westminster OM behind stellar pitching
By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer
MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo Bulldogs won two games in two days in convincing fashion, defeating the Autauga Academy Generals 6-1 on Friday, March 7 and the Westminster School at Oak Mountain Knights 3-0 on the road on Saturday, March 8.
Both games saw shutdown pitching and potent offense from Montevallo, who has now racked off three straight wins going back to Thursday, Feb. 27.
Keiston Ross pitched five shutout innings with eight strikeouts against Autauga Academy, while Jacob Whitson backed him up in relief with two more shutout innings. The tandem combined for 11 strikeouts, only giving up one hit in the process.
Ethan Juarez was the spark the Bulldogs needed, getting Montevallo on the board in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI triple and then scoring on a balk, making it 2-0. Connor Shores then hit an RBI single in the next inning to add to the lead.
The Generals responded in the fifth inning, scoring a run off of a Ross wild pitch to make it 3-1. This, however, would be the only run Autauga Academy could muster all game.
Ross’s contributions were not limited to the mound as he hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-1. Tyre’ontae Sullens then reached on an error that scored both Ross and Grayson Duckworth to make it 6-1.
After closing out the Generals, the Bulldogs moved on to face Westminster OM the subsequent day. Sullens shined both from the plate and on the mound, pitching a complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts and only two hits allowed.
Sullens also provided each of Montevallo’s three runs in the game, stealing home in the top of the third and hitting a two-run home run in the top of the seventh.
Up next for Montevallo is a road trip to Selma to face the Saints on Tuesday, March 11 at 4:30 p.m.