FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team fell on the road at the University of North Alabama 8-7 in non-conference play March 18.
The Lions plated the game-winning run on a wild pitch by junior Aron McRee with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. McRee (1-1) took the loss after allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout and one walk in one inning in relief.
Senior Matthew Haskins, who entered the game leading the Peach Belt Conference with a .458 batting average, paced the Falcons (12-9) offensively as he finished 4-for-6 at the plate and drove in one run. Haskins is now batting .474 on the year.
Senior Vinny Rodriguez went 2-for-4 at the plate and recorded the Falcons' lone extra-base hit with a double while also scoring two runs. Sophomore Dane Hutcheon finished 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Freshman Collin Dupree went 2-for-6 at the plate and drove in two runs.
Senior Cody White, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 1-for-3 at the plate. Junior Steven Knudson went 1-for-6 at the plate and scored one run. Sophomore Alex Jones finished 1-for-4 at the plate.
Senior Jeremy Bagnall, who started on the mound for the Falcons, allowed five runs on five hits with two walks in 3 2/3 innings.
Freshman Drew Mullinax gave up one run on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks in two innings in relief. Fellow freshman Trent Higginbotham pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing four hits and recording one strikeout, before junior Taylor Burr allowed one run with one walk in 2/3 of an inning.
North Alabama jumped out to an early 5-2 lead before the Falcons plated five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead. Haskins, Dupree and White each had a RBI single in the frame.
The Lions plated the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a RBI single by pinch-hitter Tyler Hall before Brandon Pugh, who led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk, crossed the plate on a wild pitch to end the game.
Montevallo will return to action Friday, March 21 as the Falcons jump back into Peach Belt Conference play with a series on the road at Georgia College.
First pitch in the series opener is set for Friday evening at 6 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Central.
