LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The second-ranked University of West Alabama baseball team split a doubleheader with Montevallo Friday at Tartt Field. UWA (25-5, 4-1 Gulf South Conference) claimed game 12-2 in seven innings, but Montevallo (20-12, 3-2 GSC) rallied in game two to win 2-1 in 10 innings.

UWA opened game one with five runs in its first trip to the plate. The Tiger bats kept the pressure on adding two in the third and one each in the fourth and fifth before finishing with three in the seventh to claim the 10-run victory over its in-state rivals.

Rob Dahlberg and Nick Wheeler led the way at the plate with multiple hits in the contest. Dahlberg went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored, as Wheeler also went 2-for-4, including his fourth homerun of the season, with three RBI with two runs scored. Chris Ransburgh picked up his third homerun of the season, while picking up two RBI and two runs scored.

Mike Schmitt (7-0) pitched six innings in the outing, allowing just five hits and fanning six Falcon batters. Charley Kelley finished the contest in relief, throwing the final inning, allowing two runs on two hits.

In game two, UWA opened the contest with a run in the first inning. Jake DeRoy led off with a single and was followed by a Todd Rea walk. Dahlberg struck out swinging and the Red and White saw DeRoy on the play, as he was caught stealing third base. After Rea advanced to third on a wild pitch, he plated the only UWA run, scoring on a balk by Zac Blakney.

 The Tigers held the 1-0 lead until the sixth inning, when the Falcons knotted the contest at 1-1. Jeremy Jones led off with a single up the middle and was followed by an Eric Moore double to left center, placing runners in scoring position. B.J. Holloway grounded out to second base, but plated Jones. With only one out, UWA reliever Brian Burgess intentionally walked Daniel Furuto to place runners at first and second. The Tigers would get out of the inning, as Aaron Faust and Dustin Rhodes each grounded out to second base.

After the two teams fought through three scoreless innings and entered extra innings, UM’s Holloway scored on an error in right field to claim the victory.

Clint Smith (1-1) received the loss with two innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk.

The rubber match between UWA and Montevallo is set for Saturday, March 22. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The contest can be found on Y-104.9-FM and athletics.uwa.edu.