AMERICUS, Ga. – After handily winning the first game against Georgia Southwestern, the University of Montevallo softball team needed a dramatic comeback in the nightcap to earn the sweep, defeating the Hurricanes 5-1 and 12-10.
Jostlyn Higgerson (11-10) earned the victory in the first game. The junior allowed just a single run on five hits in five innings in the outing.
The 1-2-3 hitters for the Falcons were big producers in the 5-1 win. Kelsey Vining, Celestia Davila, and Jessica Mentzer went a combined 6-for-11 with three RBIs.
The first run of the game came from the top of the lineup, as Vining led off the game with a triple to right field and was immediately brought home by a single up the middle by Davila.
Davila earned another RBI in the third inning, doubling to left field and scoring Shelby Lopez.
Vining advanced to third on the double and would score on a Mentzer single in the very next at-bat.
The Falcons tacked on a few more runs down the stretch, including an RBI single from Darbi Duke and a second run scored by Lopez.
Lopez also stole a pair of bases in the win.
Jana Kelbie Armstrong pitched two innings and allowed no runs to ensure the Montevallo victory.
In the second game, UM again relied on the top of its order, as Vining, Davila, and Mentzer combined for 7 of the 12 Montevallo runs and 10 of the 12 Montevallo RBIs.
The game opened with a leadoff home run from Vining, but Montevallo would have to stage a comeback to get the win, as they trailed 6-1 after four innings.
After an offensive onslaught in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, the Falcons entered the bottom of the seventh inning with a 12-6 lead.
The Falcons claimed the lead in the sixth after a three-run blast by Davila. It was the first home run in the career of the San Diego, California native.
In addition to the leadoff trio, Montevallo also received hits from Sydney Abounassar, Lexes Wilson, Dylan Bailey, and Rachael Conley. Phoebe Dabbour and Lopez each had a pair of hits in the contest.
Higgerson (12-10) got her second win on the day for UM.
Montevallo (14-16, 5-5) is now .500 through 10 games of conference play in its inaugural season.
The Falcons are back on the diamond tomorrow for another PBC doubleheader, traveling to Columbus, Georgia for a matchup with the Columbus State Cougars.
