MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo junior Steven Knudson homered twice in the Falcons' 17-7 win over visiting University of North Alabama in non-conference action April 15 at Kermit A. Johnson Field to inch closer to the national home run leader in NCAA Division II this season.
Knudson is now second nationally with his 21 home runs, just one behind Collins Cuthrell of UNC Pembroke. The San Francisco, California native is only four homers shy of tying the Falcons' program record of 25 home runs set by Chris Walker in 1988.
Knudson led an offensive explosion by the Falcons, who scored 17 runs on 19 hits and scored in all seven innings against the Lions, as he finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two homers and a double. Knudson drove in five runs and scored four runs in the victory.
Senior Vinny Rodriguez, who drove in three runs and scored one run, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles. Fellow senior Matthew Haskins, who drove in one run and scored four runs, finished 3-for-3 at the plate in the win.
Freshman Collin Dupree, who drove in two runs and scored one run, went 2-for-4 at the plate. Junior Thomas Bradey, who drove in two runs and scored two runs, finished 2-for-3 at the plate.
Senior Cody White, who drove in one run and scored two runs, finished 2-for-4 at the plate. Freshman Chad Wagner went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run.
Junior Chase Bryant, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 1-for-3 at the plate. Sophomore Dane Hutcheon went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and scored two runs.
Junior Taylor Burr (4-4) picked up the win in relief after allowing just one hit with one strikeout and one walk in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.
Freshman starter Drew Mullinax gave up seven unearned runs on nine hits with one strikeout and one walk in 3 1/3 innings. Sophomore Joey Hume pitched a perfect inning in relief with one strikeout.
Knudson's first homer in the game was a two-run blast to left-center field and gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Bradey scored on a RBI sacrifice bunt by Bryant in the second to push the Montevallo lead to 3-0.
The Lions put together a two-out rally in the third inning, scoring seven runs to take a 7-3 lead over the Falcons.
A two-run double by Rodriguez and a two-run single by Bradey highlighted a huge fifth inning for the Falcons, with Montevallo scoring eight runs in the frame to take the lead for good.
Knudson capped the outburst with his second homer, a two-run blast to left-center field in the sixth inning.
The Falcons (19-21) will return to action this weekend with a Peach Belt Conference series on the road at Young Harris College.
First pitch in the series opener is set for Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. Eastern/12 p.m. Central.
