LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The West Alabama Tigers (14-10, 8-4 GSC) hit the road for a pivotal Gulf South Conference series against the Montevallo Falcons, beginning with a Friday doubleheader at 1 p.m. and concluding with a Sunday afternoon matchup at 2 p.m. at Montevallo.
West Alabama enters the weekend in solid form, winning eight of their first 12 conference matchups. The Tigers' offense has been fueled by standout performances from
Eli Burwash (.360 AVG, 1.019 OPS),
Joe Watkins (.303 AVG, 1.103 OPS), and
Blake Vineyard (.320 AVG, .864 OPS), each making significant contributions at the plate. Watkins leads the team in RBIs with 23, while Burwash and Vineyard have combined for 30 runs batted in.
Power has been a key factor for the Tigers, with Watkins and
Jake Goolsby each launching six and five home runs, respectively. The lineup has also shown patience, drawing 115 walks as a team and maintaining a .386 on-base percentage.
On the mound, West Alabama has relied on a strong rotation, headlined by
Bryant Quimby (3.69 ERA, 29 strikeouts) and
Maxwell Schumacher (3.91 ERA, 15 strikeouts). The bullpen has been effective in late-game situations, with
Judah Buckner leading the team with three saves and a stellar 0.00 ERA in 8.1 innings of work. Additionally,
Gates Pee (1.02 WHIP) has been a reliable arm in relief, limiting opponents to a .222 batting average.
The Montevallo Falcons (12-11, 6-6 GSC) enter this matchup looking to build momentum in Gulf South Conference play. Offensively, the Falcons have been led by Connor Crowson, who boasts an impressive .420 batting average and 1.234 OPS, with 42 hits and nine home runs. McGwire Turner (.368 AVG, 4 HR) and Evan Radford (.345 AVG, 4 HR) have also provided steady production at the plate.
On the mound, Adiel Melendez (2.65 ERA, 4-2 record) has been the team's most consistent starter, holding opponents to a .217 batting average over 37.1 innings. Matthew Bullard (1.96 ERA, 5-1) and closer Garrett Sloan (6 saves) have been key contributors in relief.
First pitch for the Friday doubleheader is set for 1 p.m., with the series finale taking place on Sunday at 2 p.m.
