HOUSTON, Texas – On opening day and game one of the 2023 Houston Winter Invitational, fifth-year senior and Homewood, Alabama native
Ben Teel delivered a walk-off single to lift the Montevallo baseball team over Flagler 2-1, Friday, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
After seven straight scoreless innings, Teel stepped into the batter's box with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning with the score even 1-1 and rifled a line drive to left field to bring in
Matt Simon from second and give UM its first win of the year. Prior to Teel's RBI, Simon reached on a walk to open the final frame and pinch hitter
Alex Langford delivered a sacrifice bunt to push Simon into scoring position.
To open the first contest of the year, Montevallo scored early when senior and preseason All-American
Reed Latimer drove in
Barry Eiseman to take a 1-0 lead.
Flagler added its lone run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning following seven straight scoreless innings from the Falcons' pitching staff.
Junior
Reilly Kirkpatrick earned the win on the mound after sitting down three batters in the top of the ninth inning.
"Great way to start our season," said Head Coach
Chandler Rose. "It was a great baseball game. Teel was the perfect guy to have up in that situation – a fifth year senior that has been a starter since his freshman year. We all had tons of confidence in him and knew he'd give us a good at bat. Proud of the entire team."
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 2, Flagler 1
Records: Montevallo (1-0) | Flagler (0-1)
Location: Minute Maid Park | Houston, Texas
MONTEVALLO HIGHLIGHTS
- The Falcons recorded just three hits in the contest as Reed Latimer, Barry Eiseman and Ben Teel each finished 1-for-3 from the plate.
- Teel and Latimer earned the only RBI of the contest.
- Eiseman and Matt Simon each scored a run for the Falcons.
- Teel's walk-off single was the 156th hit of his career.
- Logan Samuels opened on the mound for the Falcons and pitched 4.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just four hits allowed.
- Griffin Lape and Connor Phelan each totaled two strikeouts out of the pen.
- Reilly Kirkpatrick earned the win and sat down three consecutive batters in the final frame.
UP NEXT: Montevallo will continue its stay in Houston, Texas and the 2023 Houston Winter Invitational with a matchup against No. 13 Central Missouri on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m.
Trey Felker will take the mound for the Falcons.