MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team is ready for their final regular season series of the 2024 season as they take on No. 21 Auburn University in Montgomery starting on Friday, Apr. 26 in Montevallo, Ala.
The Falcons comes into the final games of the season with a 25-20 overall record with a 15-12 Gulf South Conference record. Montevallo is currently sixth in the GSC standings with a chance to third. UM is coming off a series loss to the University Union last weekend where Union took the first game of the series in a 2-1 pitchers duel, then Montevallo won game two 8-3. The Bulldogs would take the series with a 4-1 victory in game three.
Head Coach
Chandler Rose will roll out
Adiel Melendez,
Gino Cozzi and
Logan Samuels against the Warhawks in games one, two and three.
GAME INFORMATION
WHO: Montevallo 25-20 (15-12 GSC) | No. 21 AUM 29-18 (19-8 GSC)
WHEN: Friday, April 26
WHERE: Montevallo, Ala.
WHO: Montevallo 25-20 (15-12 GSC) | No. 21 AUM 29-18 (19-8 GSC)
WHEN: Saturday, Apr. 27
WHERE: Montevallo, Ala.
Scouting Montevallo:
The Falcons have already clinched a spot in the GSC championship tournament but are looking to rise in the standings to earn a playoff game where they are the home team. Last season at the GSC tournament, the home team was 8-7 in the 15 games played. UM is looking to get the bats hot going into the postseason as they are 19-4 this season when they score six or more runs.
Connor Crowson and
Logan Harbin lead the charge with batting averages of .355 and .353, respectively. Crowson is currently ninth in the GSC with an even 60 hits this season while he's added eight home runs and 38 RBI. The Falcons as a team are fifth in the conference with 48 home runs, lead the GSC with 101 hit by's and are sixth with 652 total bases.
The Montevallo pitching staff is fourth in the GSC with a team ERA of 5.53, first with three shutouts and first with 14 saves on the season. The staff has racked up the third most strikeouts with 334 and allows opposing hitters to bat at a .285 clip.
Gino Cozzi leads UM with a 4.41 ERA which is 10
th in the GSC. In 63.1 innings, Cozzi has struck out 50 batters while only allowing 30 walks.
Chris Foster is having a great season in the back of the bullpen as he is fourth in the conference with six saves. Foster has only allowed an earned run in three appearances this season.
Scouting No. 21 AUM:
The Warhawks come into the final series of the season with a 29-18 overall record with a 19-8 record in conference play. AUM is fresh off of a series victory against West Florida where they dropped the first game 15-7 but rallied back to take the final two games 14-13 and 9-6. AUM is looking for their first 20-win GSC season in program history.
AUM currently has six players batting over the .300 mark and they have the fourth highest team average in the GSC at .313. Tyrese Rooks leads the Warhawks with 61 hits, three homers and 35 RBI. Zach Dew has the most home runs for AUM with nine and in total bases with 102.
Pitching Wise, Ryan Slaten leads the team with a 4.09 ERA with 55 innings pitched. Slaten has 34 strikeouts and one save on the season. Clay Slagle leads the staff with six wins on the season as he has started 11 games for the Warhawks.
Series History Against No. 21 AUM:
The Falcons are 14-7 against Auburn Montgomery and currently have a six-game winning streak against the Warhawks. At home, Montevallo is 7-3 and have defended home turf successfully in their previous two games. Against the Warhawks, UM averages seven runs a game while they have put up eight or more runs in their last four matchups.
