MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team (16-15, 10-7 PBC) split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with Georgia College and State University (16-11, 8-5 PBC) this afternoon. The Falcons took game one 2-1 and then fell in the nightcap 13-10. UM was led by junior Michael Shreves (Bradenton, Fla./State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota) in game one as he pitched 6.2 innings with 10 strikeouts, just one walk and one run given up. Freshman Zack Willoughby (Boaz, Ala./Boaz) and senior Josh Headley (Gardendale, Ala./Gardendale) provided the two runs for the Falcons as they each hit solo homeruns.
Sophomore Edward Brandsema (Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek) pitched 1.0 inning of relief with a walk and no hits given up while senior Wes Rich (Pelham, Ala./Pelham) closed out the game going 1.1 innings with a strikeout and a hit. The win moved Brandsema's record to 2-4 on the season while Rich picked up his fourth save of the year.
UM's runs came in the first as Willoughby hit a lead-off homerun and then in the fourth when Headley hit a lead-off homerun. The Bobcats scored a single run in the fifth with a double and a single but the Falcon pitching staff held serve from that point on.
In game two UM was led by senior Heath Peterson (Phenix City, Ala./Chattahoochee Valley C.C.) who was 3-for-3 with two homeruns, a pair of walks and five RBI. Junior Vincente Andrews (Phenix City, Ala./Chattahoochee Valley C.C.) was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Senior Chris Ross (Pelham, Ala./Jefferson State C.C.) was 2-for-4 with a double, a homerun, a run scored and an RBI. Willoughby was also 2-for-4 with a hit by pitch, a run scored and two RBI. Junior Austin Dubberly (Helena, Ala./Pelham) was also 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.
Sophomore Alex Guilford (Montgomery, Ala./Alabama Christian Academy) got the start in game two and went 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts and a walk. He gave up eight runs including seven earned. With the loss his record fell to 2-3 on the season.
GCSU scored a run in the first and the Falcons answered in the bottom half to tie the game. The Bobcats took control of the game in the second with four runs. UM cut the lead with two runs in the fourth but again the Bobcats answered with three in the sixth. UM matched the Bobcats three runs with three in the bottom half to make the score 8-6 heading into the seventh. The Bobcats scored two in the seventh and three in the eighth to take a seven-run lead.
UM scored three in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to just four. UM then loaded the bases in the ninth but was only able to plate one run as the Falcons fell, 13-10.
The Falcons return to action tomorrow, March 24 at 1 p.m. as they close out their series with Georgia College.
