LIVINGSTON, Ala. – No. 5 West Alabama Tigers baseball delivered late-game heroics Friday night, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Montevallo 4-3 in the opening game of a Gulf South Conference series at Tartt Field.
Trailing 3-2 entering the final frame, the Tigers mounted a rally to secure the walk-off victory and improve to 20-3 overall on the season while Montevallo fell to 8-16.
After a leadoff flyout, Wayne Wilkerson sparked the rally with a pinch-hit single to right-center. Jack Buening followed with a double to right field, putting runners on second and third before Carson Tyree entered as a pinch runner.
With the bases loaded following an intentional walk to Rashad Robinson, Austin Thacker delivered the game-winning hit, lining a single to center field that scored Wilkerson and Tyree to seal the 4-3 win.
Montevallo struck first in the opening inning when Evan Radford drove in a run with a double to left-center, giving the Falcons an early 1-0 lead.
West Alabama responded in the second inning, beginning with a double from Diego Bryant. Kyle Blevins followed with an RBI single to tie the game before Will Wood added another RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
Montevallo regained the lead in the fifth inning when Radford delivered another clutch hit, a two-run double that pushed the Falcons ahead 3-2.
The Tigers received a strong start on the mound from Baker Green, who worked six innings and allowed three runs, only one earned, while striking out five. Ryan Ladner followed with two scoreless innings of relief to keep the Tigers within striking distance.
In the ninth, Tyler Pierce shut the door on Montevallo with a dominant inning, striking out the side to set up the walk-off opportunity. Pierce earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the season.
At the plate, Walburn led the Tigers with three hits, while Thacker drove in the decisive two runs in the ninth.
West Alabama and Montevallo will continue the series Saturday, March 14, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Prior to the first pitch, former Tiger standout Keef Pettis will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 12:30 p.m. at Tartt Field.
