MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo baseball team swept visiting Flagler College in a doubleheader in the first two games of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series March 9 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
The Falcons defeated Flagler College 12-2 in the opening game of the series. Montevallo finished with 17 hits in the game, marking the Falcons' eighth consecutive game with 10 or more hits.
"Today is the most complete day of baseball we have played all year," said Montevallo baseball coach Chandler Rose. "We played outstanding in all areas of the game today with tremendous focus. It was a fantastic day of baseball and we need to bring the same focus for the final game of the series tomorrow."
Sophomore Pablo Martell led Montevallo (16-7 overall, 8-3 in Peach Belt Conference) offensively as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate. Martell drove in three runs and scored two runs in the victory.
Junior Todd Thompson, who drove in two runs and scored two runs, also finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base. Junior Jackson Slaid, who drove in two runs and scored two runs, went 3-for-5 at the plate. Junior Will Fulmer, who drove in three runs and scored one run, finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a stolen base.
Senior Austin Dubberly, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 1-for-2 at the plate with a stolen base. Freshman Thomas Bradey, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 1-for-3 at the plate. Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez went 1-for-4 at the plate and scored one run, while freshman Cody Hughes 1-for-1 at the plate as a pinch-hitter. Freshman Jeremy Hyde scored one run.
Senior Michael Shreves (4-2) picked up the win on the mound after giving up just two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts without allowing a walk in eight innings of action.
Freshman Brandon Marshall finished with one strikeout and hit one batter in one scoreless inning in relief.
The Falcons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Dubberly, who reached on a walk before stealing second base, came around to score on a RBI single to left field by Slaid.
Montevallo took a 3-0 lead after plating two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Martell, who reached on a walk, scored on a RBI single to right field by Thompson. Thompson scored later in the inning on a RBI single up the middle by Fulmer.
Flagler College scored its first run in the top of the third inning to cut the deficit to 3-1. Andrew Brodbeck doubled down the right-field line, advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single by Chace Mitchell.
The Saints cut the deficit to 3-2 with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Jay Laurienz, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score on a fielder's choice RBI by Mitch Okey.
Montevallo broke the game open with seven runs in the bottom half of the frame, which gave the Falcons a 10-2 advantage.
Fulmer led off with a single up the middle before scoring on a RBI single by Slaid. Rodriguez, who reached on a single up the middle, scored on a RBI single by Bradey. Slaid scored on a RBI single by Martell. Hill scored on a RBI single by Thompson. Martell and Bradey scored on a two-run single by Fulmer. Thompson scored the final run in the inning on a RBI single by Dubberly.
The Falcons added a pair of insurance runs late in the game with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning and a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Slaid led off with a single in the sixth inning before scoring on a RBI single by Martell. Hyde, who pinch ran following a single by Hughes in the eighth inning, scored the Falcons' final run on a RBI single to center field.
Montevallo defeated Flagler College 14-6 in the nightcap.
Fulmer led the Falcons offensively as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a double. Fulmer drove in four runs and scored two runs.
Sophomore Cody White, who drove in one run and scored four runs, went 3-for-3 at the plate. Rodriguez went 3-for-5 at the plate and drove in five runs. Thompson went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs.
Martell, who drove in one run and scored two runs, went 2-for-4 at the plate. Hill finished 2-for-5 at the plate and scored one run. Dubberly, who scored two runs and drove in two runs, and Slaid, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished with one hit each.
Junior Josh Clemen (2-2) picked up the win on the mound after giving up six earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Jake Christensen pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts and one walk to earn his first save of the season.
The Falcons jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in the nightcap.
Slaid led off with a single up the middle before scoring on a RBI single by Martell. Hill, who reached on a bunt single, scored on a RBI single by White. Martell and White scored on a two-run single to right-center field by Fulmer.
Flagler College plated two runs in the top of the third inning to cut the deficit to 4-2. Jake Hanson blasted a solo homer for the first run. Joe Post singled up the middle before scoring on a RBI single by Brett Morela later in the inning.
Montevallo pushed its lead to 5-2 with a run in the bottom half of the frame. Dubberly led off with a double to left field before scoring on a Flagler College error.
The Falcons scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go ahead 9-2. White led off with a walk before scoring on a RBI double to right field by Fulmer. Thompson, who reached on a bunt single, Dubberly, who reached on a walk, and Fulmer scored on a three-run double by Rodriguez.
Montevallo added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend its lead to 13-2. Martell singled up the middle before scoring on a bases-loaded walk to Fulmer. White, who singled, scored on a sacrifice fly by Dubberly. Fulmer and Thompson, who singled scored on a single by Rodriguez.
The Saints cut the deficit to 13-6 with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Montevallo pushed its lead to 14-6 with a run in the seventh inning when White, who singled, scored on a fielder's choice.
Montevallo returns to action Sunday, March 10 in the final game of the three-game series against the Saints. First pitch is set for noon.
