MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- The Montevallo baseball team concluded the weekend series by sweeping the AUM Warhawks on Sunday at Kermit A. Johnson Field. UM won the first game 6-5 in extra innings and then blanked AUM 8-0 in the nightcap. With the wins, Montevallo starts the season 3-0 while AUM begins their season at 0-3.
In game one, Auburn Montgomery jumped out for an early three run lead over UM with all three runs taking place in the first inning. The Falcons tied the game in the fourth inning after freshman Zen Hiatt hit a towering shot over the right field wall to clear the bases for a three run homer. It was Zen's first collegiate home run.
The Warhawks added single runs in the 5th and 9th innings to take a 5-3. The Falcons needed two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and it started with Asa Awbrey working the pitcher for a walk. After a Falcon strike out, next up was Junior Ben Teel and the Falcon's leading hitter in 2021 did not disappoint. Teel hit a huge game tying home run over the left center field fence to tie the game at 5-5.
In the 10th, pitcher Dylan Freeman, the seventh Falcon pitcher on the afternoon, came in relief and shut the door on the Warhawks striking out the last two outs. The bottom of the ninth started with a sacrifice by Reed Latimer that moved the runner to third base (college extra innings begins with a runner on 2nd base and no outs). Evan Liddie and Asa Awbrey were intentionally walked and Head Coach Chandler Rose turned to senior Brennan Ferguson to pinch hit. Ferguson delivered, just like Hiatt and Teel, by hitting a hard ground ball up the middle to score the winning run and ignite the huge victory celebration.
Both teams combined for 26 hits in the game and 14 pitchers saw action. There were no errors committed in the well-played game.
Game two of the doubleheader saw transfer sophomore JJ Pease put in a strong performance on the mound. JJ pitched 6.1 innings allowing seven hits, striking out two and walking none. A trio of relief pitchers closed the door on the Warhawks to preserve the shutout. The Falcons scored all the runs they needed in the second inning and then added two more in the fourth inning on a Reed Latimer two run shot. Riley Cain and Zen Hiatt each both added 2 hits and 2 runs scored in a total Falcon team effort.
UP NEXT: The Falcons will return home for a four game weekend series against University of Missouri in St. Louis. The first game is set for Friday, February 11th at 4:00 pm, doubleheader starting Saturday at 12 noon and the final game of the series will be Sunday at 12 noon.
