MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo baseball team splits with the West Alabama Tigers on Friday, Mar. 14. The Falcons record is now 13-12 and 7-7 inside the GSC while the Tigers are 15-11 and 9-5 inside conference play.
 
GAME ONE
For the fifth time this season, Montevallo got a start from their ace, Adiel Melendez, where he went six or more innings. The Miami, Florida native punched out a career-high nine batters as he went 6.2 innings and only allowed four hits and three walks. Garrett Sloan came in relief in the top of the seventh and got the final out of the inning with a strikeout. Sloan got the final three outs of the top of the eighth and was credited with his sixth save of the season as the Falcons run ruled the Tigers.
 
After both teams went scoreless in the first two innings, Montevallo gave Adiel Melendez all the run support he needed as McGwire Turner doubled down the left field line to drive home Payton Stephenson. A batter later, Connor Crowson single through he right side to score Turner.
 
Melendez rolled through the West Alabama order as he retired UWA in order in the fourth with a double play ball. He ran into his only trouble of his outing in the fifth as the Tigers were able to get three hits off the southpaw, but Melendez got the final batter of the inning to fly out to escape the jam.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, McGwire Turner picked up his second and third RBI of the game with a two-RBI single up the middle to score Pearl and Stephenson. The Falcons exploded for seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the eighth to earn the run rule victory. Evan Radford blasted his fifth home run of the season with a three-run shot to end the ballgame. Pearl, Hiatt and Stephenson had RBI singles in the inning.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 11 | West Alabama 0
Records: Montevallo 13-11 (7-6 GSC) | West Alabama 14-11 (8-5 GSC)
Location: Kermit A. Johnson Field at Bob Riesener Stadium
 
GAME TWO
Game two was all West Alabama as they blasted a season-high four homers against the Falcons. The Tigers opened the game with a three-run jack in the first to gain the early lead. They would extend their lead to five with a two-run long ball in the fourth.
 
West Alabama would score four runs on two hits in the top of the fifth and would put up their second consecutive four spot in the sixth inning.
 
While down 14-0, McGwire Turner would hit his second RBI-double of the day to score Ethan Huddleston to end the Tiger shutout bid. Crowson followed up Turner with an infield single to third base to score Blake Wood a batter later. UWA would then get three consecutive outs to end the ballgame.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 2 | West Alabama 14
Records: Montevallo 13-12 (7-7 GSC) | West Alabama 15-11 (9-5 GSC)
Location: Kermit A. Johnson Field at Bob Riesener Stadium
 
GAME NOTES

• Adiel Melendez picked up win No. 5 with a career-high nine strikeouts. Melendez would have his fifth outing of the season where he went six or more innings.
• In game one, McGwire Turner knocked in a season-high four RBI. Turner would add a second season-high with four hits.
• Payton Stephenson scored a season-high three runs in game one.
• Garrett Sloan notched his sixth save of the season as he tossed a scoreless outing to complete the shutout in game one.
• Evan Radford connected with his fifth homer of the season. The three-run shot walked it off for the Falcons in game one.
• Crowson and Turner turned in multi-hit efforts in game two.
• Crowson now has been on base in 28 straight games dating back to last season.

 
ON DECK
The Falcons and Tigers will meet up again on Sunday, Mar. 16 for the finale of their three game GSC series. Gino Cozzi will take the mound for UM with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT.