MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Montevallo baseball opened the 2026 season on Friday, splitting an Opening Day doubleheader against visiting Hillsdale. The Falcons earned a 6-2 win in the opener before falling in a 15-inning marathon, 14-9, in the nightcap.
Game 1 | Montevallo 6, Hillsdale 2
The Falcons struck first in the bottom of the third inning when Hudson Allen launched a solo home run to left field to give Montevallo an early 1-0 lead. Montevallo broke the game open an inning later with a four-run fourth, highlighted by a three-run homer from freshman Mason Woolever to right field. Allen later came around to score on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 5-0.
Montevallo added an insurance run in the sixth when Allen doubled to left-center, driving in Joel Chandler, who had pinch run earlier in the frame.
On the mound, Zach Wyatt delivered a dominant start, earning the win after tossing five shutout innings. Wyatt allowed just two hits while striking out eight and issuing only two walks. The Falcons' bullpen combined to limit Hillsdale over the final four frames, with Logan Medsker recording the save to seal the victory.
Allen finished the opener with a big day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run, double, two RBI, two walks, and a stolen base.
Game 2 | Montevallo 9, Hillsdale 14 (15)
The Falcons jumped out early in the second inning when Jack Fitzgerald crushed a two-run home run to right field, giving Montevallo a 2-0 advantage. Fitzgerald continued his standout game in the fifth with a solo shot to tie the game at three, while Evan Radford drove in the go-ahead run moments later to put the Falcons in front 4-3.
After the visitors answered with three runs in the sixth, Montevallo refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the eighth, Hollon Brock delivered a clutch two-run homer to left-center, tying the game at six and sending it into extra innings.
The teams traded chances in the extra frames, with Montevallo answering a Hillsdale run in the 13th when Radford singled to left, scoring Mason Woolever to even the game at 7-7. Hillsdale ultimately broke through with a seven-run top of the 15th inning.
Despite the late deficit, the Falcons continued to battle in the bottom half, plating two runs on RBI groundouts by Caleb Karll and Harrison Long before the rally was halted.
Fitzgerald paced Montevallo offensively, going 3-for-6 with two home runs and three RBI, while Brock added two RBI and Woolever collected three hits in the contest. Montevallo used 11 pitchers in the extra-inning affair, with several relievers providing scoreless frames.
NOTABLES
- Game 1 starter Zach Wyatt earned the win after tossing five shutout innings, striking out eight while allowing just two hits. Logan Medsker secured his first save of the season by working a scoreless ninth inning in the opener.
- The Falcons powered their offense with five home runs on the day, all coming from newcomers. Jack Fitzgerald led the way with two long balls, while Hudson Allen, Hollon Brock, and Mason Woolever each homered in their Montevallo debuts.
- Fitzgerald finished 4-for-8 at the plate with two home runs, a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Woolever went 4-for-9 with a double, a homer, and three RBI, while Allen added a 3-for-9 effort that included a double, a home run, and two RBI.
UP NEXT: The rubber match between the Falcons and Chargers is set for Sunday at noon.
