HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Montevallo baseball team knocked off the No. 13 ranked team in NCAA Division II, Central Missouri, 11-10, Saturday, at Minute Maid Park.

In what was a three-hour and 15-minute contest, the Falcons hit two home runs and scored 11 runs on 11 hits.

Montevallo broke into the scoring column early when senior Asa Awbrey hit a three-run shot to right for his first homer of the year and the ninth of his career. The blast drove in Ben Teel and Sam Kuchinski to give UM an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Senior Matt Simon added to Montevallo's lead with an inside-the-park home run in the top of the second inning and drove in freshman Luke Mitchell to put the Falcons up 5-2.

A two-RBI single for Mitchell in the top of the third added to UM's lead, 7-3, after the Mules grabbed a run in the bottom of the second. A bases-loaded walk drawn by Ben Teel scored Will Lafollette to give Montevallo an 8-3 advantage.

The lead extended to six in the top of the fourth when Zen Hiatt grounded into a double play, scoring Latimer.

Pitcher JJ Pease struck out his second batter of the day in the bottom of the fourth to hold the Mules scoreless for the second consecutive frame.

In the top of the sixth, Alex Langford hit a pinch-hit two-RBI single down the left field line to extend the lead to seven, 11-5.

Central Missouri added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and eighth innings to cut UM's lead to two, 11-9. In the final frame, fifth-year senior Griffin Lape entered out of the pen and recorded the final out, and a save, to give Montevallo an 11-10 victory.
 
GAME INFORMATION

Score: Montevallo 11, No. 13 Central Missouri 10
Records: Montevallo (2-0) | No. 13 UCM (0-2)
Location: Minute Maid Park | Houston, Texas

MONTEVALLO HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Asa Awbrey had a massive day at the plate going 2-for-2 with three RBI, a home run and two walks. He also scored two runs.
• Freshman Luke Mitchell joined Awbrey with three RBI in the game and finished 2-for-4 from the plate with a double and a walk.
• Senior Matt Simon finished as the third Falcon to register two hits and was 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI, one walk and an inside-the-park home run.
• Senior Alex Langford finished 1-for-1 at the plate with a two-RBI single.
• Senior JJ Pease earned his first win on the mound and recorded six strikeouts in 3 and two-thirds innings pitched.
• Fifth-year senior Griffin Lape earned his first career save.
• Montevallo scored 11 runs on 11 hits in the contest and drew seven walks.

UP NEXT: Montevallo will close out its stay in Houston, Texas and the 2023 Houston Winter Invitational with a matchup against Arkansas Tech on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. Dylan Freeman will take the mound for the Falcons.