MONTEVALLO, Ala. – After sweeping a pair of games with the UNC Pembroke Braves on Saturday afternoon, the University of Montevallo softball team reached the .500 mark in conference play. The Falcons won the first game 4-2 and won the second on a walk-off bunt, 3-2.
Jostlyn Higgerson (13-13) picked up the win in both contests. The junior pitched a combined 11 1/3 innings, allowing just a single earned run. She struck out six batters on the day.
In the first game, Montevallo struck first, as junior Hannah McCreless hit the first home run of her UM career. The Trussville, Alabama native drove one over the fence in left center field to score pinch runner Darbi Duke.
A squeeze play in the bottom of the third gave Montevallo a 3-0 lead, as Celestia Davila laid down a perfect bunt and scored Kelsey Vining from third.
The 3-0 lead would become a 4-0 lead in the next at-bat. Jessica Mentzer doubled to left field and plated Davila.
In the top of the fourth, the Braves would cut the lead in half, but would be unable to get it any closer than what would go on to be the final score, 4-2.
Jana Kelbie Armstrong pitched a scoreless top of the seventh to earn the first save of her collegiate career.
The second game would again be closely contested, but would again end in a Montevallo victory.
To open the game, Vining stole her conference-best 24th base after a leadoff single. She would move to third after a Davila sacrifice and score after Mentzer grounded out to the shortstop.
After UNCP drew even in the top of third, another Mentzer RBI in the bottom half put Montevallo on top by a single run.
A bases loaded walk in the sixth tied the game up 2-2, but the Falcons would have an answer in the bottom half of the seventh, using a familiar formula. Vining led off the inning with a single, moved over to third after a Davila groundout, and scored after a Mentzer bunt. It was the second run of the game scored by Vining and the third RBI for Mentzer.
Vining had three hits in the game, while McCreless had two base knocks, including a double. Sydney Abounassar also had a double for UM. Sydney Aguilar and Shelby Lopez also had hits for Montevallo.
Montevallo (17-20, 7-7) will host another doubleheader this Wednesday, March 25. The Falcons will host in-state, non-conference opponent UAH. The first pitch of the first game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
