CARROLLTON, Ga. – The University of Montevallo baseball team capped off the 2023 regular season with a doubleheader sweep and series win over West Georgia, 2-1, to put themselves in a position for a share of the Gulf South Conference Regular Season Championship.
Montevallo finished the regular season at 37-12, marking the most wins since winning 47 in 2007. Additionally, the Falcons conclude conference play at 21-9 overall and have clinched the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
With Saturday's wins, the Falcons are currently tied in wins with West Florida (21) and would share the GSC Regular Season Championship with a West Florida loss on Sunday. UWF's series finale against Valdosta State on Saturday was suspended due to weather in the top of the fourth inning with the Blazers on top 5-3. The game resumes at 10 a.m. central time Sunday.
Montevallo's offense totaled 20 runs between the two games combined and featured big innings with seven runs in the eighth inning of game one and eight runs in the fifth frame of game two.
The No. 8 ranked Falcons defeated UWG 10-4 in game one and 10-5 in game two.
GAME ONE
Much like the series opener, the Falcons fell behind the Wolves early on and trailed 4-0 after the second inning.
After giving up four in the first two innings, Montevallo's starting pitcher,
Michael Morse, through three and two-thirds shutout innings to help Montevallo stay within reach.
In the third inning, Montevallo answered the Wolves with a pair of runs as
Khalid Collymore and
Sam Kuchinski each notched RBI singles.
A single from
Evan Liddie in the sixth made it a one-run game, 4-3 in the sixth.
JJ Pease replaced Morse in the sixth and went on to pitch three and third scoreless innings with three K's.
Trailing 4-3 in the eighth, the Falcon bats exploded for a seven-spot in the frame. The rally began with a pair of hit-by-pitches and walk to load the bases. An ensuing two-RBI single from Collymore gave UM its first lead of the game, 5-4. Liddie then scored on a wild pitch to give Montevallo a two-run cushion, 6-4. With the bases loaded and two outs in the inning, a grand slam from
Asa Awbrey broke the game open and put the Falcons on top 10-4.
Pease finished out the game in the ninth to give UM the 10-4 victory and earn his seventh win of the year.
GAME ONE INFORMATION
Score: No. 8/23 Montevallo 10 | West Georgia 4
Records: No.8/23 Montevallo 36-12 (20-9)| West Georgia 31-15 (17-12)
Location: Carrollton, Ga.
GAME ONE NOTES
- Montevallo scored ten runs on ten hits while UWG added 11 hits and scored just four runs.
- Asa Awbrey finished 2-of-5 from the plate with a team-high four RBI in the win.
- For the second straight game, Khalid Collymore tallied three hits as he went 3-for-6 with three RBI.
- Sam Kuchinski finished 2-for-3 and further extended his hit streak to 24 games.
- Morse and Pease combined for seven scoreless innings and five K's on the mound as Pease earned the win to move to 7-1 on the year.
GAME TWO
Much like game one of the doubleheader, the Falcons fell behind early when West Georgia plated one run in the second and a pair in the third.
A solo homer in the fourth inning from
Sam Kuchinski, his GSC-leading 16
th of the year, opened the scoring for UM and made it a 3-1 game.
In the fifth inning, UM found life offensively and plated eight runs in the frame to break the game open. The scoring began with an RBI single from
Asa Awbrey before
Jake Smallwood added a pair of RBI on a fielder's choice to vault UM ahead, 5-3. A bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch pushed the lead to four, 7-3. A two-RBI single from
Barry Eiseman added UM's ninth run of the game before Kuchinski capped the inning with an RBI double to give the Falcons a 10-3 advantage. Montevallo scored all eight of their runs with two outs.
West Georgia added a pair of runs but
Connor Phelan was able to hold the Wolves from adding anymore as closed out the win on the mound.
GAME TWO INFORMATION
Score: No. 8/23 Montevallo 10 | West Georgia 5
Records: No.8/23 Montevallo 37-12 (21-9)| West Georgia 31-16 (17-13)
Location: Carrollton, Ga.
GAME TWO NOTES
- Montevallo scored ten runs on seven hits in the game while UWG had five runs on six hits.
- Sam Kuchinski led Montevallo from the plate as he went 3-for-4 two RBI, hit his 16th homer and extended his hit streak to 25 games.
- Jake Smallwood and Barry Eiseman each added a pair of RBI in the win.
- The Falcons end the regular season having scored double-digits in 24 of 49 games this season.
UP NEXT: Montevallo will get set for the Gulf South Conference Tournament beginning May 4 in Oxford, Ala.