BOX SCORE | UPDATED STATISTICS
GSC CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
OXFORD, Ala. – Montevallo scored seven runs in the fourth inning to take a lead that UWF was unable to overcome as the Argonauts fell to the Falcons, 11-6, in an elimination game at the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament at Choccolocco Park on Saturday.
UWF started out hot, scoring three runs in the first two innings and built a 3-1 lead. The Argos had their first three batters get hits, with
Tyler Dowdy driving in
Trent Jeffcoat to get the scoring going.
An inning later after a Zen Hiatt solo home run for the Falcons,
Josh Prizina and
Chris Johnson belted back-to-back doubles for a run and then
True Fontenot connected on an RBI single for the 3-1 lead.
But the offensive power of UM came to life with the 7-run fourth. Following a Sam Kuchinski 2-run home run, Will Pratt had a bases-loaded RBI single and later three runs came home on a throwing error when the Argos went to turn a double play and the throw to second went down the left field line.
In the sixth and seventh innings, the teams traded single run frames. For the Argos,
Jadon Fryman had a pinch-hit RBI single and then
Preston Moore was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the margin to 10-5. Unfortunately, UWF left the bases loaded when Fryman popped up.
UM scored one in the ninth on Hiatt's second home run of the game.
Cullan O'Shea belted a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the ninth, pushing his season total to 11 and adding to his UWF career tally, concluding his 3-years in Pensacola with 25.
"We got out of the gates good today but Montevallo's got a good club and the better team won," UWF head coach
Mike Jeffcoat said.
O'Shea, Jeffcoat and Fontenot all had two hits for UWF.
Tyler Dowdy (4-6) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 3-plus innings of work. Logan Samuels (5-1) picked up the win for UM. He allowed four runs on six hits with a pair of hit batters.
UWF ended the year with a 22-24 record and qualified for the GSC Tournament for the 17th time in program history.
"It was a struggle season and I appreciate the effort and dedication these guys showed us," Jeffcoat said. "It just didn't work in our favor and we didn't produce like we wanted to. The last month we kind of went into a tailspin and couldn't recover.
"We just have to regroup and build this backup because the standard of what we are used to wasn't there and we want to get it back to where we are more competitive. These guys gave their hearts to the program and we will bounce back."
