Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team hands No. 1 Tampa their first loss of the 2025 season on Friday, Feb. 7. With the win over the reigning DII National Champions, Montevallo moves to 4-1 on the season while No. 1 Tampa moves to 3-1. This is the Falcons first win over a No. 1 ranked team in program history.
 
In a Friday night showdown between two of the most talented arms in Division II, Montevallo's Adiel Melendez and Tampa's Skylar Gonzalez did not disappoint. In the top of the first, the Spartans threatened with two on, one out after a hit by pitch and a walk. Melendez bared down and struck out the next batter looking. He was able to escape the jam as his punched out the final batter of the inning swinging.
 
Connor Crowson led off the bottom half of the first with a lead-off double just out of reach of the diving center fielders' glove. Tampa's Skylar Gonzalez was able to strand the runner at second with two strikeouts and a ground out to third to end the inning. Adiel Melendez made quick work off the Spartan order as he induced a ground out and two weak foul outs to hang his second zero of the ball game. Evan Radford led off the Falcon's half of the second with a double down the left field line. A single up the middle by Christian Kallaher moved Radford to third. Kallaher was cut down a batter later trying to steal second. After Landon Leake drew a walk, Jacob Pearl would rifle a ball to first, but the Spartan first baseman would make a great diving play and tag first to end the Falcon threat.
 
Tampa started the top of the third with a lead-off walk. After a line out to left, McGwire Turner and Ethan Huddleston would roll a tailor-made double play (Turner to Huddleston to Harbin). For the third inning in a row, the Falcons would squander a lead-off base runner as Crowson would single up the middle but was unable to score. The Spartans would start with a runner on second with no outs in the fourth via an error. A fly out to center moved the runner to third, then an RBI ground out by Tampa would give them the early lead.
 
The Spartans added a second run with a double to start the fifth. Tampa would bunt the runner to third then drive him home with a sacrifice fly to center. The Falcons would crack the scoreboard in the bottom half of the fifth when Jacob Pearl launched his first home run of his collegiate career. After Melendez held Tampa scoreless in the top of the sixth, Khalil Bell would come on for a pinch-hit appearance and come through for the Falcons with an RBI single to right to drive in Evan Radford. Daniel Irizarry pinch ran for Bell and would advance to third on a fielder's choice. Jacob Pearl would knock in his second RBI of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly to center to score Irizarry.
 
Adiel Melendez would come out for the top of the seventh to protect the Falcon lead. With two on, no out, Melendez would strike out the final batter in his outing. He would give way to Garrett Sloan who got two fly outs to end the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Evan Radford would hit a no-doubter out of Kermit A. Johnson Field for his second homer of the season to put Montevallo up 5-2.
 
Garrett Sloan was outstanding once again as he earned his fourth save of the season in his fourth appearance of the season. Sloan went 2.2 and only allowed one hit while he struck out one. He is the current Division II leader in saves.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 5 | No. 1 Tampa
Records: Montevallo 4-1 (0-0 GSC) | No. 1 Tampa 3-1 (0-0 SSC)
Location: Kermit A. Johnson Field at Bob Riesener Stadium (Montevallo, Ala.)
 
GAME NOTES

• Adiel Melendez was lights out against the No. 1 team in the country as he went 6.1 innings and only allowed two hits and only one earned run. The southpaw moves to 2-0 on the season picked up five strikeouts today.
• Jacob Pearl hit his first collegiate homer as he got the Falcons on the board in the fifth with his solo shot.
• Connor Crowson turned in a three hit effort today including a double and two singles.
• Evan Radford hit a towering, two-run shot in the seventh to put the Falcons up 5-2. Radford now has two home runs on the season and three RBI.
• Khalil Bell pinch hit for the Falcons in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2. Christian Kallaher and McGwire Turner both had a hit today.
• Garrett Sloan slammed the door on the Spartans and earned his fourth save of the season. Sloan leads all of the Division II in saves and is second with four appearances.

 
ON DECK
The Falcons and Spartans will square off in game two of their series on Saturday, Feb. 8. Zach Wyatt will take the ball for the Falcons in his second start of 2025. First pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.