MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo senior Vinny Rodriguez kept his program-record hitting streak alive, but the Falcons dropped the second game in two nights against nationally-ranked University of West Alabama 10-6 in their final non-conference game of the season April 22 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
The Tigers, who are ranked No. 10 nationally in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll, turned a one-run deficit into a three-run advantage on a grand slam by Luigi Mendez in the top of the sixth inning and held on to the lead the rest of the way.
Rodriguez, who has now recorded a hit in 26 consecutive games, led Montevallo (20-24) offensively as he finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a double. Rodriguez drove in one run and scored one run.
Junior Steven Knudson went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored one run. Junior Michael Simmons, who drove in two runs and scored one run, finished 1-for-4 at the plate with a double. Junior Chase Bryant went 1-for-5 at the plate with a double.
Freshman Collin Dupree finished 1-for-5 at the plate and drove in one run, while senior Zack Willoughby went 1-for-1 at the plate and drove in one run in a pinch-hitting role as he recorded a RBI single in his final at-bat at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
Freshman Chad Wagner scored two runs, while senior Matthew Haskins scored one run.
Freshman Drew Mullinax (2-3) took the loss in his fifth start of the season after allowing seven runs, including four earned runs, on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings on the mound.
The Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Haskins scored on a RBI double by Rodriguez before Knudson scored on a wild pitch in the frame.
A solo home run by Parker Madden in the top of the fourth inning and a RBI sacrifice fly by Madden in the top of the fifth inning tied the game at 2-2.
Wagner scored on a RBI groundout by Dupree in the bottom of the fifth to give Montevallo a 3-2 lead before Mendez turned the game in the Tigers' favor with his grand slam in the top of the sixth inning.
The Tigers added four more runs, including a solo homer by Mitch Holgate in the top of the seventh inning, before Montevallo plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Wagner and Rodriguez scored on a two-run double by Simmons. Simmons scored the final run on a run-scoring single by Willoughby.
The Falcons will wrap up the regular season this weekend with a three-game Peach Belt Conference series on the road at the University of North Georgia, which currently leads the conference with a 20-7 mark in conference play.
First pitch against the Nighthawks (31-12) is set for Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. Eastern/12 p.m. Central.
