MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team defeated visiting UAH 5-3 in a non-conference battle March 13 at Kermit A. Johnson Field between two teams ranked in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll.
The Falcons (18-7), ranked No. 22 in the poll, plated five runs on nine hits in the victory over the Chargers, who entered the contest ranked No. 9 in the poll.
"That was a great win against a really good UAH team," said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. "Guilford was just sensational and Hughes has been nails for us at th end of games. The bottom half of the lineup really stepped up and had some big hits for us tonight. We've had so many guys stepping up and contributing the last couple of weeks, which is a sign of everyone being bought in and getting their job done when called on."
Sophomore Chad Collum led Montevallo offensively as he finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a double. Collum also scored one run and finished with one stolen base.
Junior Todd Thompson went 2-for-2 at the plate and drove in two runs. Sophomore Pablo Martell, who drove in one run and scored two runs, finished 1-for-4 at the plate.
Freshman Thomas Bradey went 1-for-2 at the plate and scored one run. Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez went 1-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Junior Jackson Slaid also finished 1-for-4 at the plate.
Junior Alex Guilford improved to 4-0 on the mound this season after giving up just three earned runs on nine hits with nine strikeouts in eight innings of action.
Freshman Cody Hughes picked up his fourth save of the season after finishing off the ninth inning without allowing a hit.
The Chargers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when J. Sherrill singled through the left side before scoring on a sacrifice fly RBI by Tyrone Smith.
Montevallo tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Collum doubled down the left-field line before coming around to score on a fielder's choice RBI by Fulmer.
The Falcons took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bradey, who reached on a walk, came around to score on a RBI single up the middle by Martell. Martell scored later in the inning on a RBI single by Thompson to give Montevallo a 3-1 lead.
Rodriguez doubled down the left-field line and scored on a wild pitch to give the Falcons a 4-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Chargers cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning when Connor McCain doubled to right-center field before scoring on a RBI single by Sherrill.
Montevallo added an insurance run in the bottom half of the frame when Martell reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a sacrifice fly RBI by Thompson.
The Chargers plated a run in the top of the ninth inning following a solo homer by Sherrill, but Hughes didn't allow any further damage.
The Falcons return to action Friday, March 15 with the first game of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series against Columbus State University at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
