COLUMBUS, Ga. – Taylor Lloyd became the Montevallo All-Time Career Wins Leader on Friday, picking up her 42nd career win, as the Montevallo softball team secured a pair of wins over Eckerd (7-2) and Mars Hill (8-0) to open the Cougar-Hurricane Classic.
GAME ONE
Taylor Lloyd picked up the win in game one, earning her sixth win and fourth complete game of the season. Lloyd allowed one earned run and struck out six in seven innings of work.
After both teams were scoreless through the first two innings, Montevallo struck first in a big way in the top of the third inning. Ariana Pinder and Makayla Peters earned walks and Riley Tyree singled, ultimately loading the bases with one out for Kiley Christopher. Christopher came up clutch with a grand slam, putting the Falcons ahead, 4-0.
Montevallo added to its lead in the top of the fifth, as a successful double steal led to Madison Fargo scoring the fifth run of the day for the Falcons. An Emma Faulk single led to an Eckerd error which scored Peyton Hull to stretch the UM lead out to 6-0.
The Tritons responded plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the deficit to 6-2.
The Falcons got one run back in the top of the sixth, as Ariana Pinder hit a sac-fly to score Bentlee Stiner, putting Montevallo ahead, 7-2.
Lloyd kept the Tritons off the board in the final two innings to preserve the 7-2 victory for Montevallo.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 7 | Eckerd 2
Records: Montevallo 8-1 | Eckerd 3-3
Location: Cougar Field | Columbus, Ga.
GAME NOTES
The Falcons outhit the Tritons 11-7.
Taylor Lloyd became the Montevallo All-Time Career Wins Leader (42 wins).
Kiley Christopher hit her first home run of the year.
Kiley Christopher and Riley Tyree each recorded two hits.
GAME TWO
Kinsley Byrd earned the win in game two, pitching a complete game shutout. Byrd allowed two hits and struck out five in six innings pitched.
Montevallo got things started early, as Emma Hawkins walked, and Bentlee Stiner doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Ariana Pinder brought Stiner home with a sac-fly to put the Falcons in front 1-0. Riley Tyree reached on a fielder's choice and Becca Benton hit her fifth home run of the season to put UM ahead 3-0.
Montevallo scored a run in each of the next two innings, as Benton hit an RBI-single in the third inning and Taylor Rogers hit an RBI-single in the fourth. The Falcons stretched the lead out to 5-0.
Rogers hit another RBI-single in the top of the sixth to put the Falcons ahead by six runs. Montevallo added two more runs in the inning as, Emma Faulk scored off an error and Rogers stole home to stretch the lead out to, 8-0.
Mars Hill picked up its second hit of the day in the bottom of the sixth, but Byrd closed the door, inducing a groundout to seal the, 8-0, run-rule victory.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Montevallo 8 | Mars Hill 0
Records: Montevallo 9-1 | Mars Hill 6-2
Location: Cougar Field | Columbus, Ga.
GAME NOTES
Montevallo outhit Mars Hill 9-2.
Kinsley Byrd pitched a complete game shutout.
Taylor Rogers set a new program record for stolen bases in a single game (five).
Becca Benton recorded three RBIs.
UP NEXT: Montevallo closes the weekend with games against Converse and Mount Olive on Saturday.
