ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. –  The University of Montevallo softball team split against Eckerd College on Saturday, Feb. 4 as the Falcons won game two of the two game series.
 
GAME ONE
The Tritons gained the advantage over the Falcons quick with a two-out, two-RBI single to left in the first inning. Montevallo came back with their biggest offensive inning of the young season, started with an Ellie Derrick infield single. Sydnee Reaves drove Derrick home with a double into left. Ariana Pinder came up next and roped a double to right to drive in Reaves and Madison Fargo who reached via fielder's choice.
 
Eckerd responded quick with a home run in the bottom half of the third to tie the game. The Tritons took the lead with a two-out, two-RBI single to right. Eckerd would add two more in the fourth with two RBI singles. EC scratched one across in the sixth with a fielder's choice.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 4 | Eckerd 8
Records: Montevallo 0-3 (0-0 GSC) | Eckerd 2-1 (0-0 SSC)
Location: Turley Athletic Complex (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
 
GAME NOTES

• Ellie Derrick led Montevallo with two singles while she came across to score once.
• Sydnee Reaves and Ariana Pinder both had RBI-doubles in the third.
• Bentlee Stiner and Ansley Hudson recorded hits.
• Rachel Whiddon was great in relief to end the game as she allowed only one run in 2.2 innings of work.

 
GAME TWO
Like the first game, Eckerd got the early lead with a double to center. Ariana Pinder was excellent for the Falcons in her first start of the season as she battled zero for zero against Eckerd all the way until the sixth when Montevallo gained the lead. The sophomore from Phenix City went 5.2 innings of work with three earned runs and one strikeout.
 
The Falcons tied the game up in the fifth with a great at-bat from Lily Stone who drew a bases loaded walk. UM took the lead when freshman Madison Fargo knocked a two RBI double to left field to score Sydnee Reaves and Skylar Johnson. Ellie Derrick picked up an RBI with a sac-fly to left to put the lead to 4-1. Lily Stone added an insurance run with a single to right to score Bentlee Stiner to make the score 5-1.
 
Eckerd didn't go away as they hit a double to right field to score two Tritons as EC shrunk the lead to 5-3. Mya Young came in relief during the sixth and worked out of a jam to end the inning.
 
With a runner on in the bottom of the seventh, Rachel Whiddon came on for the save and induced a double-play and retired the final batter of the game with a ground-out to Ellie Derrick for her first save of the season.


GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 5 | Eckerd 3
Records: Montevallo 1-3 (0-0 GSC) | Eckerd 2-2 (0-0 SSC)
Location: Turley Athletic Complex (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
 
GAME NOTES
 

• Madison Fargo tallied her first RBI in her collegiate career with a two-run double in the third.
• Ariana Pinder and Bentlee Stiner both had two hit games while Stiner added a stolen base.
• Lily Stone had two RBI in the game while Ellie Derrick knocked one in via sac-fly.
• Ariana Pinder earned her first win of the season in the circle while Rachel Whiddon notched her first save as a Falcon.

UP NEXT
Due to inclement weather, the double-header against Florida Southern has been canceled. The Falcons will next be in action against Trevecca Nazarene on Friday, Feb. 9 at the Charger Chillout in Albertville, Ala.