GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Montevallo softball team opened the 2026 season strong with a pair of wins over No. 18 Rogers State and Middle Georgia State in the Gulf Shores Invitational on Friday.
GAME ONE
Taylor Lloyd earned the win in the circle with a solid complete game performance where she held the No. 18 Hillcats to one run, while recording eight strikeouts.
Montevallo looked to strike early, as Taylor Rogers got on base to start the game with a walk. Bentlee Stiner followed that up with a two-run home run to put the Falcons ahead, 2-0. The Falcons kept the momentum going in the top of the first, as Ariana Pinder followed Stiner's bomb with a solo home run of her own to increase the Montevallo lead to, 3-0. The bottom half of the inning proved to bode well for the Falcons, as Lloyd struck out the side.
Montevallo looked to add to its lead in the top of the fourth inning, as Riley Tyree doubled, and Makayla Peters and Lillie Piersol earned back-to-back walks to load the bases. Emma Hawkins provided a clutch two-out single to bring home Peters and Piersol, putting the Falcons ahead, 5-0.
After going down quietly through the next few innings, the Hillcats loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. An RBI-single gave RSU its first run of the day, but Lloyd responded with a huge strikeout to limit the damage to just one run and leave the bases loaded.
RSU looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh, as a double put a runner in scoring position with one out. Lloyd induced a lineout and pop out to end the game and secure a, 5-1, Montevallo victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 5 | No. 18 Rogers State 1
Records: Montevallo 1-0 | No. 18 Rogers State 0-1
Location: Gulf Shores Sportsplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
GAME NOTES
GAME TWO
Kinsley Byrd got off to a solid start in the circle, allowing one earned run and striking out four in four innings of work. Berkley Mooney pitched the next 2.2 innings and struck out three batters. Lloyd secured the final four outs and was credited with her second win of the day.
Middle Georgia State struck first with a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 advantage.
Montevallo saw its first base runner come in the bottom of the third, as Lillie Piersol earned a leadoff hit-by-pitch. Piersol stood on third base, after a sacrifice-bunt and steal. An MGA error would bring Piersol home which tied the game at one run apiece.
The Knights regained the lead with a run in the top of the fifth to pull back ahead, 2-1. Montevallo looked to respond in the bottom half of the inning, as Piersol got things going again, this time with a leadoff single. She ultimately reached third, but the Falcons were unable to bring her home.
The Falcons found its equalizer in the bottom of the sixth, as Bentlee Stiner was hit by a pitch and Riley Tyree brought her home with an RBI-bunt single.
The Knights looked to regain the lead in the top of the seventh, putting a pair of runners on with two outs. Lloyd entered the game and closed the door with a strike out to keep the score tied heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Falcons loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to bring the winning run home, leading to extra innings.
The Knights hit a single in the top of the eighth, but a strikeout and fly out kept MGA off the board.
Ariana Pinder was placed on second base to start the frame and Riley Tyree stepped up to the plate and provided a huge walk-off single to score Pinder and secure a, 3-2, win for the Falcons.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 3 | Middle Georgia State 2
Records: Montevallo 2-0 | Middle Georgia State 1-1
Location: Gulf Shores Sportsplex | Gulf Shores, Ala.
GAME NOTES
- Both teams recorded four hits.
- Riley Tyree recorded the walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth.
- Taylor Lloyd picked up her second win of the day.
- Lillie Piersol reached base three times.
UP NEXT: Montevallo returns to action next weekend for the Chattanooga Invitational (Feb. 6-7).
