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University of Montevallo Athletics

bb
10
Winner Montevallo UMBB2 39-15
5
Florida Southern FSC 32-20
Winner
Montevallo UMBB2
39-15
10
Final
5
Florida Southern FSC
32-20
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montevallo UMBB2 0 0 0 0 7 1 1 0 1 10 17 0
Florida Southern FSC 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 5 11 1

W: Samuels, Logan (7-1) L: Nate Madej (6-4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Falcons Dominate Florida Southern 10-5, Advance in NCAA Regional for First Time Since 2007

PENSACOLA, Fla. –  The University of Montevallo baseball team is advancing in the NCAA South Regional tournament following a 10-5 win over Florida Southern – one of the most storied programs in Division-II baseball – with the program's first NCAA postseason win since 2007 and the first under Head Coach Chandler Rose.
 
10 runs on 17 hits carried the Falcons to the win offensively, while stellar defensive plays from senior shortstop Matt Simon and impressive outings on the mound for Gino Cozzi and Logan Samuels aided in the effort.
 
Reed Latimer recorded his 23rd multi-hit game of the year as he went 4-of-5 from the plate as Montevallo's offensive leader.
 
The first three innings of the win-or-go-home contest flew by as Cozzi pitched two and two-thirds scoreless frames for the Falcons. Montevallo left six runners on, however, for a quartet of zeros to begin the game.
 
Florida Southern found life at the plate in the fourth, plating three runs on three hits to lead Montevallo 3-0.
 
With its back against the wall, Montevallo answered the call in the fifth inning with a seven-spot to jump in front of the Mocs, 7-3. An RBI single from Reed Latimer plated UM's first run in the frame before a two-RBI single from Luke Mitchell tied it up 3-3. An RBI ground out from Evan Liddie followed to score Asa Awbrey and give Montevallo its first lead of the game, 4-3. With two outs and two on, Matt Simon delivered a clutch two-RBI double to break it open, 6-3. The Falcons weren't done yet though, as Barry Eiseman added his second hit of the inning with an RBI double to right center that put UM ahead 7-3.
 
"Matt has been such a staple in our program," added Rose. "I wish people could see his work ethic day in and day out. He's turned himself into a great leader and defensively might be the best shortstop I've ever coached. We saw that on display today. It was great to see his success today."
 
Following the seven-run rally in the top of the fifth, Logan Samuels returned to the mound and held FSC off the board with a pair of K's.
 
"I'm proud of our response," said Rose. "That has been our MO all season. We throw punches back when we get punched. I'm proud of the energy and the way we came out today after last night. The seven runs were huge. Logan then dialed in the rest of the game – it was fantastic."
 
 
In the sixth, a groundout from Mitchell plated another run to push UM ahead by five.
 
 
The Mocs grabbed a run in the bottom of the sixth before the Flacons answered on an RBI single from Eiseman in the seventh.
 
Samuels put up back-to-back zeros in the seventh and eighth to hold the Falcons in front, 9-4.
 
In the top of the ninth, Jake Smallwood added an insurance run for the Falcons with his fourth homer of the year – a no-doubter to right field.
 
FSC added a run in the ninth but the Falcons went on to win, 10-5 for a historic regional victory.
 
 
Full Press Conference: https://youtu.be/PgkC8oQ3nDA 

 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 3 Montevallo 10  | No. 7 Florida Southern 5
Records: Montevallo 39-15 (21-9 GSC) | Florida Southern 32-20 (17-13 SSC)
Location: Jim Spooner Field | Pensacola, Fla. 
 


GAME NOTES
 
  • Montevallo earned its first regional win, to the day, since May 19, 2007, when the Falcons defeated Angelo State 5-4 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  
  • The win is the first regional win under 13-year Head Coach Chandler Rose. Additionally, the Falcons' 17 hits are the most in a regional under Rose and the most since recording 23 in a 22-2 win over Southern Arkansas, again on May 19, 2006, in Abilene, Texas.
  • The Falcons scored 10 runs on 17 hits while FSC plated just five runs on 11 hits.
  • Gino Cozzi earned the start and threw two and two-thirds scoreless with three strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
  • Logan Samuels was phenomenal out of the bullpen as he improved to 7-1 on the mound with six and a third innings pitched, 105 pitches and six strikeouts.
  • Reed Latimer led UM from the plate as he went 4-for-5 with an RBI.
  • Luke Mitchell, Barry Eiseman and Matt Simon each recorded two RBI in the winning effort.
  • Eighth Falcons recorded a hit in the win with five recording multiple hits.
 
UP NEXT: The Falcons will take on the loser between No. 2 seed West Florida and No. 6 seed Barry in a win-or-go-home game on Saturday, May 20, tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
 
 
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