MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Coming off a weekend series win over West Georgia, the University of Montevallo Baseball team continues its conference season with a trip to Clinton, Mississippi to face Mississippi College in a three-game series.
The series was originally scheduled for Friday, Mar. 15 and Saturday, Mar. 16, but will now be played on Saturday, Mar. 16, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Sunday, Mar. 17 at 12 p.m. at Frierson Field.
The weekend road trip will begin a stretch of nine consecutive road games. Montevallo will return home on Mar. 29 to begin a series with Valdosta State.
GAME INFORMATION
Game 1
WHO: Montevallo 13-10 (5-4 GSC) | West Georgia 12-8 (4-5 GSC)
WHEN: Saturday, Mar. 16, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Clinton, Mississippi
Game 2
WHO: Montevallo 13-10 (5-4 GSC) | West Georgia 12-8 (4-5 GSC)
WHEN: Saturday, Mar. 16, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Clinton, Mississippi
Game 3
WHO: Montevallo 13-10 (5-4 GSC) | West Georgia 12-8 (4-5 GSC)
WHEN: Sunday, Mar. 17, 12 p.m.
WHERE: Clinton, Mississippi
So Far This Season…
Despite winning two of the first three GSC series, the Falcons have struggled to put together a string of wins in March. Last week against West Georgia, UM split the doubleheader but turned in a dominant 22-6 win on Sunday to win the series, 2-1. Even with the added momentum of Sunday's win, the Falcons dropped a midweek with Spring Hill, 4-3, in what was a pitcher's duel for over five innings.
Montevallo enters the first of nine straight road games this week 13-10 overall, 5-4 in the GSC, and 3-6 on the road.
In the GSC, Montevallo's offense remains one of the best with a .306 batting average, 179 runs scored, 29 homers, 163 RBI, 367 total bases, a league-best 57 hit-by-pitches, and a .421 on-base percentage – all of which rank in the top five.
UM's pitching staff remains strong around the league as well and is tied for the lead in strikeouts with 195 on the year. Opponents are batting just .273 against Montevallo's pitchers, the third-lowest mark in the league.
Early in the season, the Falcon's defense ranked as the best in the league in both errors made and fielding percentage. However, as of late errors have somewhat plagued the Falcons. Despite that, UM remains in the top five in fielding percentage and errors committed as a team in the conference.
Scouting Mississippi College:
Mississippi College powered its way to a 9-3 start on the year but has gone 3-5 since, similar to the Falcons. The Choctaws are 4-5 in GSC play and 7-8 overall.
Last time out, the Choctaws picked up a series-opening win over then-No. 8 West Florida, 4-3, but dropped the last two games, 3-1 and 6-3.
The Choctaws are just behind the Falcons with a .303 batting average this season and lead the league with a .530 slugging percentage.
MC's defense is the best in the league with a .975 fielding percentage and just 18 errors committed on the year.
Series History Against Mississippi College:
Montevallo is 8-5 against the Choctaws since 2017 and have won five in a row, including a sweep in 2023. Prior to a 2-1 series win in 2022, Mississippi College compiled four consecutive wins over the Falcons. Montevallo is 3-5 on the road in the series.
Player Highlights Montevallo:
Junior
Adiel Melendez, Senior
Logan Samuels and Senior
Gino Cozzi will take the mound for the three-game series this weekend.
Gino Cozzi is off to a hot start and leads the Falcons' starting rotation with a 5-1 record, 3.48 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and a 1.04 WHIP. He threw five innings against West Georgia and struck out five with three runs allowed, earning his fifth win of the year. Cozzi also has a team-best .172 batting average to his opponents.
Samuels leads the Falcons with 35 K's on the year.
The duo of
Chris Foster and
Connor Phelan leads the Falcons' bullpen. Foster boasts a 1.08 ERA, 2-1 record, 10 K's and two saves while Phelan is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 15 K's and two saves.
Connor Crowson leads the Falcons with a .398 batting average on the year and has a team-high 24 RBI. The third baseman is slugging .590 on the year with a .519 on-base percentage.
Earlier this week,
Logan Harbin was named the GSC Player of the Week after going 9-for-15 with 5 RBI the week before. Harbin is batting .372 on the year with 20 RBI and a team-high six doubles.
In just two games played this week,
Brandon Moore stepped up offensively for the Falcons. Moore went 4-for-8 on the week with two doubles and a homer.
Player Highlights Mississippi College:
Wesley Sides is batting .417 on the year for the Choctaws and leads the league with a 1.459 OPS.
J.T. Vance in the GSC's home-run leader at the moment with eight.
Holland Townes leads MC with 33 strikeouts on the year and a 2-1 record.
Cooper Gadman and Jack Bell each have a save.
