MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – University of Montevallo junior Steven Knudson homered for the 11th time this season, but his blast was one of only three extra-base hits as the Falcons fell to host Georgia College 18-8 in the opening game of a Peach Belt Conference series March 20.
The Bobcats scored the final 13 runs in the game, all in the final four innings, and overcame a 8-5 deficit against the Falcons to secure the first game in the series.
Knudson, who finished 2-for-5 at the plate, drove in two runs and scored one run for the Falcons, who fell to 12-10 overall and 8-5 in Peach Belt Conference play.
Senior Vinny Rodriguez, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double. Sophomore Alex Jones finished 3-for-5 at the plate.
Senior Cody White, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 2-for-5 at the plate. Senior Alec Stiver finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while freshman Collin Dupree went 2-for-5 at the plate.
Senior Matthew Haskins, who finished 1-for-4 at the plate, drove in one run and scored three runs. Sophomore Dane Hutcheon, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 1-for-5 at the plate.
Junior Thomas Bradey finished with a double in a pinch-hitting role, while freshman Chad Wagner also had a single as a pinch hitter. Senior Zack Willoughby scored one run, while junior Harrison Foster drove in one run.
Sophomore Joey Hume (1-3) took the loss after allowing six earned runs on six hits with one walk in 1 1/3 innings in relief.
Junior starter Cody Hughes allowed five runs, including four earned runs, on five hits with one strikeout and three walks in five innings on the mound.
Montevallo jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the game, scoring three runs in the top of the second inning. White and Haskins each had a RBI single in the frame.
The Falcons took a 8-5 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, including a sacrifice fly by Foster and a RBI single by Hutcheon.
Georgia College plated three runs in the bottom half of the frame before scoring five runs in the seventh inning and five runs in the eighth inning to close out the victory.
The Falcons and the Bobcats meet in game two of the series Saturday, March 21.
First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Central.
