MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo junior Cody Hughes gave the Falcons 6 2/3 quality innings to lead the Falcons to a 1-0 win over visiting GRU Augusta in the opening game of a Peach Belt Conference series Feb. 28 against the Jaguars at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
Hughes allowed seven hits with three strikeouts in 6 2/3 shutout frames for the Falcons as he picked up his first win on the mound this season. Fellow junior Aron McRee recorded his second save of the season after pitching 2 1/3 hitless innings in relief with one strikeout.
The Falcons dropped the nightcap against GRU Augusta 6-2. The third and final game in the series is set for Sunday, March 1, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Junior Matthew Haskins led Montevallo (5-6 overall, 3-2 in Peach Belt Conference) offensively as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double.
Freshman Kale Latorre went 1-for-2 at the plate and drove in one run, while junior Jeremy Hyde finished 1-for-3 at the dish and scored one run. Senior Vinny Rodriguez also went 1-for-3 at the plate.
The Falcons plated the lone run in the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hyde, who reached on a walk and advanced to second on a hit and run grounder by sophomore Jacob Whiting, scored on an RBI infield single by Latorre.
GRU Augusta plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning to give the Jaguars breathing room in a 6-2 win over the Falcons in the nightcap.
Haskins led Montevallo offensively as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate while blasting his second homer of the season.
Junior Steven Knudson went deep for the sixth time this season and finished 1-for-4 at the plate. Rodriguez, sophomore Dane Hutcheon and freshman Chad Wagner finished with a single each.
Junior Landon Smith (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs, including one earned run, on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in six innings.
