MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo junior Steven Knudson remains among the NCAA Division II leaders after blasting his 19th home run of the season, but it was one of few highlights for the Falcons in a 14-5 loss to visiting Columbus State University in the final game of their final home Peach Belt Conference series April 12 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
Knudson, who drove in two runs and scored two runs, finished 1-for-3 at the plate with a solo homer. Knudson is two home runs behind national leader Collins Cuthrell of UNC Pembroke.
Sophomores Jacob Whiting and Dane Hutcheon, along with senior Vinny Rodriguez, paced Montevallo (18-21 overall, 10-14 in Peach Belt Conference) with two hits each.
Whiting went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run, while Hutcheon finished 2-for-5 at the plate and drove in one run. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Freshman Chad Wagner finished 1-for-3 at the plate, while senior Matthew Haskins went 1-for-4 at the plate.
Junior Chase Bryant drove in one run and scored one run. Sophomore Alex Jones drove in one run, while senior Cody White scored one run.
Freshman Trent Higginbotham (2-2) took the loss in his third start of the season after allowing eight runs, including four earned runs, on five hits with one strikeout and three walks in three innings.
Senior Jeremy Bagnall pitched two scoreless innings in relief while allowing just two hits and registering a pair of strikeouts.
Knudson's solo shot in the bottom of the first inning gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
Columbus State took control with eight runs in the top of the third inning, which included home runs by Brendan Collins and Chris Daniel.
Knudson scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the fourth inning. Whiting scored on a RBI single by Hutcheon and Bryant scored on a RBI sacrifice fly by Knudson in the bottom of the seventh inning before White scored the Falcons' final run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a RBI sacrifice fly by Bryant.
The Falcons will return to action Tuesday, April 14 with a home contest at Kermit A. Johnson Field against nationally-ranked UAH in non-conference play. The Chargers are ranked as high as No. 6 in the Perfect Game NCAA Division II poll.
First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
