Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville baseball team (2-1) split its doubleheader with Montevallo (1-2) Friday afternoon at Kermit A. Johnson Field. Errors plagued the Chargers in the first game as the Falcons claimed a 5-4 decision but UAH claimed the weekend series with a weather-shortened 4-2 victory in a 5.5-inning game two.
GAME ONE
Montevallo plated two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on two throwing errors that would prove to be crucial as UAH dropped its first game of the season, 5-4, to the Falcons in game one of a doubleheader on Friday.
Down 5-3 after the fielding woes in the sixth inning, the Chargers got a run back in the seventh frame to cut the deficit to 5-4. UAH took a chance to tie the contest in the eighth inning, sending sophomore Justin Riddle from second all the way home on a junior Justin Pearson single into right field. Unfortunately, Riddle was gunned down at the plate on the throw from right field.
The Falcons struck first in the game, scoring a runner from second base on a single to left field. The lead didn't last, however, as UAH knotted things at 1-1 in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly to score senior Mike Love from third base.
With the bases loaded for the Chargers in the fourth, UAH plated two more runs to take a 3-1 advantage off a single by freshman Jim Nelson and fielder's choice by Love.
UAH's junior southpaw Willard Bacon took the loss to drop to 0-1 on the year, working just 0.2 innings but allowing three runs, though only one earned. Montevallo's Devon Davis (1-0) picked up the victory, throwing 1.1 innings of the game and allowing one run. Nathan Flanagan earned the save by closing out the final 1.1 innings with two strikeouts.
The Chargers connected for 12 hits in the first game of the doubleheader as senior Jon McKinney paced the Chargers with three hits, a run scored and one RBI. Montevallo had 10 hits in the game with two players going 2-for-4 from the plate.
GAME TWO
Senior Grant DeBruin blasted a two-run home run in the second game of a doubleheader with Montevallo to lead UAH over the Falcons, 4-2, in a weather-shortened 5.5-inning game.
The Chargers crossed the plate first in the top of the third inning off DeBruin's two-run deep ball over the left center wall – his first deep ball of the season and seventh of his UAH career. Senior Jon McKinney got on base first in the frame, with a double into left field.
UAH added two more runs in the fourth frame when after Justin Riddle walked to open the inning, Robbie Reece doubled to center field to score Riddle. However, on the same live ball, Reece advanced to third on the throw home in an attempt to put out Riddle, then scored on a throwing error by the catcher.
With a 4-0 lead in the fourth, Montevallo got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning. The Falcons quickly had runners on second and third with no outs, followed by a fielder's choice and a throwing error by the shortstop on the next two batters which scored both runners, respectively.
Senior David Kendrick earned the rain-shortened 5.5-inning complete game victory, allowing two runs on seven hits while fanning two batters. Montevallo's Kameron Heiser was tagged with the loss after working four innings, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks.
UAH will return to action next weekend, traveling to Boca Raton, Fla., to face Lynn in a four-game weekend series at Roger Dean Stadium. The four games will be played as two doubleheaders on Friday, Feb. 10, and Saturday, Feb. 11, with the first pitch scheduled for noon CST on both days.
