AMERICUS, Ga. – University of Montevallo freshman Alex Pondick puzzled the Georgia Southwestern lineup as he helped the Falcons clinch their Peach Belt Conference opening series with a 8-2 win over the Hurricanes in the final game of the series Feb. 16.
The Falcons, ranked No. 16 in the latest College Baseball Lineup NCAA Division II poll, improved to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in Peach Belt Conference play after registering eight runs on 13 hits in the victory. Montevallo has scored at least five runs in all 10 games to start the 2014 season.
Pondick (2-0) allowed just one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 7 2/3 innings in the third start of his career.
Senior Jackson Slaid led Montevallo offensively as he went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double. Slaid drove in two runs and scored one run in the win.
Freshman Dane Hutcheon finished 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles and drove in one run. Sophomore Vinny Rodriguez, who drove in one run and scored one run, also went 3-for-5 at the plate.
Junior Zack Willoughby, who drove in two runs and scored one run, finished 1-for-4 at the plate. Senior Will Fulmer went 1-for-5 at the plate and scored two runs. Senior Pablo Martell finished 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in one run. Junior Matthew Haskins went 1-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run.
Senior Todd Thompson, junior Chase Bryant and freshman Alex Jones scored one run each in the victory.
Freshman Dustin Cowart allowed one run without recording an out in relief, with sophomore Aron McRee allowing one hit and issuing one walk while pitching a scoreless 1 1/3 innings.
The Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Rodriguez led off with a single up the middle before scoring on a RBI single to right field by Hutcheon, who scored later in the frame on a RBI infield single by Martell.
Montevallo added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to push its lead to 4-0. Fulmer, who reached on a single up the middle, came around to score on a RBI single to left-center field by Rodriguez. Slaid, who singled to left field in the inning, scored on a RBI single to left field by Haskins.
The Falcons took a 8-0 lead after plating four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Bryant and Thompson each reached on a walk before scoring on a two-run single to right-center field by Willoughby. Fulmer, who also reached on a walk in the inning, and Willoughby scored on a two-run double to right field by Slaid.
Georgia Southwestern scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame on a bases-loaded walk and a passed ball, but it was all the offense the Hurricanes could manage against the Falcons' pitching staff.
The Falcons will return to action Wednesday, Feb. 19 with a non-conference game against Stillman College at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
