Montevallo Sweeps Weevils

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   The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (1-4) were swept in a three-game series by the eighth-ranked University of Montevallo Falcons, falling 7-4 and 16-1 on Feb. 10, and dropping a 4-3 decision Feb. 11 at Weevil Field.

   In the opening contest, Montevallo jumped ahead in the first inning as Daniel Furuto followed a walk and two hit batsmen by swatting a grand slam to give the Falcons an early 4-0 lead.

   UAM pulled to within 4-2 after the bottom of the first when Nate Black (Sr., Rocky River, Ohio) hit an RBI grounder and Haley Hougen (Sr., Wylie, Texas) added an RBI single, but the Falcons pushed their lead back to four with a two-run third inning.

   The Falcons extended their lead to 7-2 after scoring a run in the fourth, and the Weevils’ bats fell silent until the bottom of the sixth, when Black and Hougen hit back-to-back homers to lead off the inning.

   However, the Weevils’ offense could not manage any more and the Falcons picked up the victory.

   David Nix (Fr., Camden) suffered the loss after throwing three and one-third innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs, all earned. Kyle Thaxton (Fr., Blytheville) and Josh Franks (Sr., Lafayette, La.) combined to throw three and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief.

   In the day’s nightcap, the Falcons pulled ahead 2-0 after the top of the second inning, when the Weevils pulled to within 2-1 after a Chris Whatley (Jr., Sachse, Texas) RBI single in the bottom half of the second.

   However, after tacking on a single run in the third, Montevallo exploded for a 10-run fourth inning and the Weevils never recovered, falling 16-1 in a game called after six innings due to darkness.

   Colter Zoch (Jr., La Grange, Texas) picked up his first loss of the season after surrendering five runs in three innings and allowing nine hits.

   In Sunday’s series finale, the Weevils fell behind 1-0 after the top of the first inning. UM pulled ahead 3-0 after plating two runs in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly and a double steal.

  The Weevils responded in the bottom of the sixth inning as Josh Mace (Sr., Nelson, B.C.) walked with the bases loaded to pull UAM to within 3-1. Matt Whatley (Jr., Sachse, Texas) followed immediately with a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.

   The Falcons picked up their game-winning hit two innings later as Daniel Furuto led off the eighth inning with a towering home run to right-center field.

   The Weevils threatened again in the ninth as Mace led off with a single, and pinch runner Trae Baker (So., Hampton) advanced as far as third base after a wild pitch, but was not able to score the tying run as the last two UAM batters struck out swinging in the bottom of the ninth.

   Tyler Cox (So., Camden) suffered the loss in relief, allowing three runs in two innings after walking four.

   UAM’s pitching staff combined for 13 walks; while the Montevallo team left 20 runners on base.

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