PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of Montevallo baseball teams takes the series against West Florida on the road with a 4-1 victory on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Falcons improve to 6-4 on the season and 2-1 in GSC play. West Florida falls to 4-5 on the season and 1-2 inside the GSC.
 
In what was a pitcher dual, Gino Cozzi prevailed. Cozzi forced weak contact for the majority of the day including the first inning with three consecutive ground outs. West Florida threatened with two on, two out in the second but Cozzi was able to punch out the final batter of the inning swinging. The third was more of the same as the Falcons starter was masterful, collecting two more strikeouts in the inning.
 
Offensively, the Falcons were perfect gamed through four. In the top of the fifth, Montevallo put together a two out rally of their own with hits by Ethan Huddleston and Landon Leake. The Argonauts got out of the jam with a strikeout.
 
Gino Cozzi got all the run support he needed as the Falcons strung together two singles by Connor Crowson and Logan Harbin. UM loaded the bases as McGwire Turner was plunked by a pitch. After being moved up to the clean up spot, Evan Radford came up clutch for the Falcons with a single to left to score Crowson and Harbin. Cozzi took the mound with his first lead of the day and fired a shut down inning with two strikeouts looking.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Argonauts would find themselves with two on, no out after a hit by pitch and walk. Cozzi would give way to Sam Patrick after he finished with six innings pitched with seven strikeouts. Patrick would do an excellent job out of the bullpen. West Florida would pop up a sacrifice bunt which resulted in a double play. Crowson would field a ground ball and step on third for the final out of the inning.
 
Logan Medsker would get two ground outs before giving way to Mason Creacy, who finished the eighth with a third ground out in the inning. Creacy would close the game out for the Falcons who earned their second series win of the season and first Gulf South Conference series win of the season.
 
"Can't say enough about our pitching this weekend," said Head Coach Chandler Rose. "Gurr and Cozzi were incredible and the bullpen was lights out. Gino stepped up in a big way for us today."
 
"So proud of our guys resiliency and toughness this weekend," said Rose. "Pensacola is always such a tough place to play. To respond after getting it put to us in game one says a lot about our guys."
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 4 | West Florida 1
Records: Montevallo 6-4 (2-1 GSC) | West Florida 4-5 (1-2 GSC)
Location: Jim Spooner Field (Pensacola, FL)
 
GAME NOTES

• After playing 22 innings the night before, Gino Cozzi gave the Falcons exactly what they needed with an exceptional outing where he went a season-high six innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. Cozzi is seventh in the GSC with a 2.19 ERA.
• Evan Radford found himself in another key at bat for UM where he came through with a big two RBI-single. This is Radford's second three RBI game in a row and he now leads the team with nine RBI.
• Sam Patrick did a great job in relief as he got West Florida to pop up a bunt that resulted in a double play. This was Patrick's first scoreless outing.
• Logan Medsker recorded two ground outs and gave way to Mason Creacy who got the final four outs of the ballgame.
• Connor Crowson earned his team-leading fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• McGwire Turner and Connor Crowson now have a 10-game reached base streak.
• Khalil Bell had his second pinch hit appearance that resulted in an RBI hit.

 
ON DECK
The Falcons will step out of conference play as they welcome in Tuskegee on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Kermit A. Johnson Field at Bob Riesener Stadium. First pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.