CARROLLTON, Ga. — The University of Montevallo softball team used the old idiom "better late than never" to perfection Friday afternoon as the Falcons scored nine runs in the top of the sixth inning to beat the University of West Georgia 10-4 to open the three-game series.
Starting pitchers
Mychael McMillan and Lexi Close traded zeros on the scoreboard for the game's first three innings, before Montevallo (8-5, 3-1) broke through for a run on a one-double double by
Holly LaForce that scored
Caroline Pope, who singled in the prior at bat before stealing second.
West Georgia (6-6, 2-2) responded with a four spot in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 and knock McMillan out of the game.
After two more zeroes were put up in the fifth inning,
Mariel Bertossi, Pope and LaForce all reached base to start the sixth.
Georgia Hughes brought home Bertossi with a single to right field, before Pope scored on a throwing error to cut the UM deficit to one run.
Following a groundout to shortstop,
Alexis Cortez, who hit a game-ending single against No. 4 West Florida a week ago, tied the game with an infield single that plated LaForce.
Brianna Stella pushed the Falcons ahead with a single to shortstop that scored Hughes.
After West Georgia made a pitching change,
Haley Barnette walked to load the bases for
Sierra Easterwood, who broke open the game with a one-out grand slam. Bertossi followed with a single through the left side, before she stole second then scored on a
Brooke Ingram double to left-center field.
Following the Montevallo offensive outburst, McMillan re-entered the circle for Kayla Flugga, who earned her second win after pitching 1.1 scoreless innings and allowed only one hit and issued only one walk, to start the bottom of the sixth. McMillan allowed a one-out walk and single to centerfield, before retiring the next five straight Wolve batters to end the game.
The two teams will conclude its two-day, three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22 with the first game slated for 12 p.m. CT and the series finale scheduled for 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
