Falcons Steal Their Way to Victory over 22nd-Ranked Northern Kentucky

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo baseball team (5-7) stole nine bases in a 13-9 victory over 22^nd-ranked Northern Kentucky University. The nine stolen bases was just one behind the school record of 10 in a game held by the 2004 team which stole 10 against Stillman College. Sophomore Josh Headley (Gardendale, Ala./Gardendale) also tied the all-time school record for stolen bases in a game by an individual with four. The feat was most recently accomplished by Eric Moore (2007-08) who stole four bases twice during the 2008 season.

The Falcons were led offensively by senior Andy Revell (Albertville, Ala./Albertville) who went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Austin Dubberly (Helena, Ala./Pelham) led the team with three RBI all of which he picked up on a huge three-run double in the seventh. Junior Scottie Deason (Hoover, Ala./Spain Park) had two RBI and two runs scored off a pair of hits while sophomore Duston Daugherty (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) drove in two runs, scored three times and had a homerun. Headley was the final Falcon with a multiple-hit game as he went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four stolen bases.

Senior Kevin Garcia (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Dunedin) picked up an RBI and hit Montevallo's second triple of the season. Senior Nelson Garcia, Jr. (Tampa, Fla./Sickles) also picked up an RBI.

Sophomore Wes Rich (Pelham, Ala./Pelham) took home the victory as he came on in relief for starter Cameron Sokalski (Delta, British Columbia/North Delta). Sokalski left with the lead but only pitched 2.1 innings which meant he did not qualify for the win. Rich pitched 3.2 innings with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. He gave up just two hits and two runs. Junior Joey Noro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) pitched the next 1.2 innings with no strikeouts and a walk while senior Caleb McLeod (Pleasant Grove, Ala./Pleasant Grove) closed out the game pitching 1.1 innings with a strikeout and just two hits given up.

The Falcons got going early as they trailed 1-0 after the top half of the first. UM scored four runs in the bottom of the first off of four hits and three NKU errors. Daugherty, Dubberly and Headley all had singles in the inning while Revell knocked a double.

UM gave up another run in the second but answered with two in the bottom half with a two-run homerun from Daugherty down the left field line. NKU was able to score another run in the third but once again the Falcons answered with two. Garcia, Jr. and Deason each had hits in the inning but the big play of the inning was a double steal by Garcia, Jr. and Sosebee. Sosebee stole home while Garcia, Jr. took second.

The Norse scored another run in the fourth to make it 8-4 Falcons but UM was unable to answer in the bottom half. UM finally blanked the Norse in the fifth and scored a run of their own in the bottom half to go up 9-4. Headley and Deason each had hits in the inning but it was Headley's steal of both second and third that set up the RBI single by Deason.

Both teams were scoreless in the sixth and then NKU put up another run in the seventh. UM answered with an explosive four-run bottom half in which they had just two hits. One of the hits was Dubberly's three-run double to right field and the other was a triple from Garcia down the right field line.

The Norse answered with four in the eighth but that would be all they could muster as the Falcons won 13-9.

The Falcons will return to action Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m. as they travel to former Gulf South Conference rival North Alabama for a doubleheader. UNA is 3-3 on the season and play Harding on Tuesday at home.