GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Montevallo softball team opened the season with a split at the Gulf Coast Invitational on Saturday. In the first game, the Falcons rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to overcome a two-run deficit to beat Drury 8-5. Then in a late night matchup against Rollins, another comeback attempt came up short in a 4-3 loss.

The Falcons led Drury 3-1 going into the seventh inning but found themselves trailing after the Panthers scored four runs to take a 5-3 lead. 

In the bottom of the seventh, a pair of walks, a wild pitch and a hit batsman loaded the bases for the Falcons. A fielder's choice by Taylor Robinson, scored Sydnee Pawlak from third base, cutting the deficit to one. Then, Hannah Carey tied the game with an RBI single that scored Kinley Adams, who walked earlier in the inning. One out later, Gabrielle Ginnis smashed a two-out, 3-run bomb to walk off with the win.

Both Ginnis and Robinson finished the game with three RBI apiece. Robinson also scored twice as did Adams and Pawlak.

Kaylee Hawkins was the beneficiary of the comeback victory as she came on in relief in the seventh inning to stop the Drury rally. She gave up two runs on three hits, while striking out one.

In the late night game against Rollins, the Falcons fell behind 4-0 and their rally came up just short. In the fourth inning, Robinson hit a solo homer to cut the lead to 4-1. UM crept even closer with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. The first run scored on an RBI single by Alisha Lanyon that scored Carey. Carey led off the inning with a single. Then, the Falcons made it 4-3 when Ginnis scored on a pinch hit single by Anna Hinkle. However, the rally fizzled, leaving the Falcons with their first setback of the season.

Kaitlyn Flugga suffered the loss in the circle for the Falcons. She pitched two and a third inning, giving up four runs on seven hits.

The Falcons wrap up the weekend on Sunday morning against Palm Beach Atlantic (9 a.m.) and Lubbock Christian (11:15 a.m.).

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