MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team welcomes in the reigning 2024 NCAA Division II Champions and current No. 1 ranked Tampa Spartans for a three-game series at Kermit A. Johnson Field at Bob Riesener Stadium. Game one is set for 4:00 p.m. CT.
 
Last Time Out
In their previous game, the Falcons are coming off a come from behind victory over Spring Hill. Montevallo was down 2-3 heading into the seventh, but an RBI-single from Connor Crowson and a two-run homer by Logan Harbin gave the Falcons the lead. Crowson would hit the Falcons second two-run shot of the game to gave UM a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Garrett Sloan notched his third save in his third appearances in a 1-2-3 inning.
 
Series Notes vs. No. 1 Tampa
 
How To Follow
Montevallo vs. No. 1 Tampa / Feb. 7 at 4:00 p.m. CT
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Montevallo vs. No. 1 Tampa / Feb. 8 at 1:00 p.m. CT
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Montevallo vs. No. 1 Tampa / Feb. 9 at 12:00 p.m. CT
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About Montevallo
The Falcons are off to a nice start in 2025 as they won their first series of the season against Embry-Riddle and they picked up their first road win of the new season. They have out slugged their opponents as they've hit eight homers compared to five home runs given up. As a team, they lead the league in home runs and have the most total bases in the GSC at 61. The pitching staff has done a nice job as they have the second lowest ERA in the conference at 3.50. The Falcons have had many outstanding relief outings including many shutdown innings.
 
Head Coach Chandler Rose will send Adiel Melendez to the mound in game one, Zach Wyatt in game two and Gino Cozzi in the series finale. Starting pitching was great against Embry-Riddle as they all allowed only two earned runs or less. In the Gulf South Conference, Montevallo has the most strikeouts out of any staff with 33 (8.25 per game). UM has the current saves leader in the conference and in all of Division II, as Garrett Sloan has three saves in three appearances. The staff will have their hands full with a Tampa lineup that averages over 10 hits per game and strikeouts out only five times per game.
 
Logan Harbin and Connor Crowson have picked up right where they left off last season as they both have two homers and five RBI in four games. Christian Kallaher has been consistent as he's batting .500 in 10 at bats so far this season. Kallaher also has the Falcons lone stolen base as he swiped second against Spring Hill. McGwire Turner has made his presence inside the Falcons three-spot in the batting order as he has a hit in all four games to start the 2025 year. McGwire is third on the team with a .417 on base percentage.
 
Scouting No. 1 Tampa
The Tampa Spartans reminded everyone why they are the No. 1 team in Division II as they swept the No. 13 Georgia College and State Bobcats last weekend. Tampa currently has a nine-game winning streak dating back to May 24^th of last season. In 2024, they only lost one three-game series which was against Lynn on May 9^th through May 10^th.
 
The Spartans will showcase the 2024 ABCA/Rawlings National Pitcher of the Year, Skylar Gonzalez. Last season, Gonzalez was 16-0 with 102.1 innings pitched and 67 strikeouts. In his first start of 2025, he went 4 innings, allowed two earned runs and struck out six. As a staff, they have an ERA of 2.00 and have only allowed six earned runs. They have 33 strikeouts and have only walked 10 batters.
 
As a team, Tampa is batting .310 and averaging over 10 hits per game. Kevin Karstetter had a nice opening series for the Spartans as he batted .455 in 11 at bats with five hits and eight total bases. In game one against the Bobcats, Karstetter had four hits and three RBI. In game three, J.D. Urso was 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored. Urso blasted his first homer of the season in the third inning.