MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo junior Steven Knudson blasted a grand slam to the deepest part of Kermit A. Johnson Field in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Falcons to a 8-6 win over visiting Georgia Southwestern in the opening game of a Peach Belt Conference series March 14.
The Hurricanes spoiled another comeback attempt by the Falcons with a 10-9 victory in the nightcap, setting up a showdown in game three for the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Knudson's slam in the bottom of the eighth inning completed a comeback by Montevallo in the series opener, with the Falcons facing a 6-0 deficit after two innings.
Knudson, who entered the series No. 3 nationally among NCAA Division II hitters with eight home runs this season, drove in four runs and scored one run for the Falcons (11-8 overall, 7-4 in Peach Belt Conference) in the victory.
Senior Matthew Haskins, who drove in one run and scored two runs, went 1-for-5 at the plate. Senior Cody White finished 2-for-3 at the plate.
Senior Zack Willoughby, who recorded a double in his at-bat as a pinch hitter, junior Jeremy Hyde and sophomores Alex Jones and Jacob Whiting finished with one hit each.
Senior Vinny Rodriguez drove in one run and sophomore Dane Hutcheon scored one run.
Junior Taylor Burr (3-0) picked up the win in relief after recording three strikeouts and one walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Junior Aron McRee recorded his fourth save of the season after allowing just one hit in the ninth inning.
Knudson homered again in the nightcap, his 10th blast of the year, as he finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Knudson scored two runs and drove in two runs.
Senior Vinny Rodriguez went 3-for-6 at the plate with a double, while junior Harrison Foster finished 3-for-4 at the plate. Rodriguez and Foster drove in one run and scored one run each.
Haskins, who drove in one run and scored two runs, went 2-for-4 at the plate with a homer, marking his third of the season. Jones finished 2-for-5 at the plate and drove in one run.
Senior Alec Stiver, who drove in one run and scored two runs, went 1-for-3 at the plate.
Freshman Trent Higginbotham (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing one run in 3 1/3 innings in relief.
