May 7, 2008

Contact: Alfred Kojima 

FALCONS COME UP SHORT AGAINST No. 2 DELTA STATE IN GSC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
 

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (5/6) – For the second consecutive night, a ninth inning rally came up short as the University of Montevallo lost to No. 2 Delta State University, 7-5 in the championship game of the 2008 Gulf South Conference Baseball Championships at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Wednesday night.

In the ninth inning, the Falcons had two runners (Eric Moore and B.J. Holloway) in scoring position at second and third base with two outs. Jeremy Jones hit a slow bouncing ball down to DSU shortstop Devin Goodwin, who fielded the ball and narrowly recorded the out at first base to end the game.

After the tournament, four Falcons were named to the All-Tournament Team. In addition to Moore, outfielder Brantly Clay, catcher Ryan Norman and relief pitcher Nate Russ were selected. DSU pitcher Kevin Smalley was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Playing against their fifth consecutive Top 30 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II poll) team, the Falcons managed nine hits on the night, two each by Moore and Chris Cooper, who also drove in three RBI. 

Zac Blakney started on the mound for UM, went the first three innings, allowed four earned runs and seven hits with two strikeouts to take the loss. Garett Mims went the next three innings, allowing two runs. Jeffrey Reach went the final 1 2/3 innings.

Moore led off the game with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jones and scored on a groundout by Cooper. DSU scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Norman led off the third inning with a double down the left field line. After a walk to Holloway, a sacrifice bunt by Moore put runners at second and third base. Jones produced an RBI groundout to tie the game at 2-2. DSU regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring three runs for a 5-2 lead.

In the sixth inning, Jones doubled down the left field line and scored on an RBI single by Cooper. DSU answered with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to make it a 7-3 game. UM answered with single runs in the eighth (RBI single by Cooper) and ninth (RBI single by Moore).

UM will conclude the 2008 season with a record of 36-25 overall.

game boxscore


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