April 16, 2008
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - In a non-conference matchup vs. conference rival Montevallo, the Argos took a three run lead into the fourth inning, but Montevallo ended the night with 16 runs. Pitching was a struggle for everyone, in a game played at Paterson Field in Montgomery, Alabama, as the two teams combined to hit 10 batters, walk nine others, and give up 22 hits. In all, it lead to a 16-6 win for the Falcons over West Florida.
The Argos scored first, with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Kyle Brown led off with a walk, and rode home on a two run homer by Kyle Andrews. Then after Brandon Brewer walked, Greg Pron singled him to third, and eventually Jon Reed would drive in Brewer with a sacrifice fly. Montevallo would get two runs back in the top of the fourth inning. The Argos would take a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Montevallo scored three runs in the sixth, then followed it with seven runs in the seventh inning. By the time the night was over, the Falcons scored 16 runs on 15 hits. The win for Montevallo, improved their record to 29-19, while the Argos dropped to 19-30 on the season. The game did not count in the conference standings, as the two teams already played their three conference games, with Montevallo winning two of the three games played earlier this year in Montevallo.
West Florida mounted a small rally in the eighth inning with three more runs, as Jon Reed was hit by a pitch, and moved to second when pinch hitter Kevin Meirzwinski singled. Greg Burkel drove in the first run with a double. Meirzwinski scored the second run on a wild pitch, and Steven Bingert drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly.
Starting pitcher Nick Presley pitched a fairly solid six innings, and ran into trouble in the seventh, and it took three other Argo pitchers to make it through the seventh inning. Todd Stannard, Sixto Velasco, and David Pedro all pitched in the seventh inning. Meanwhile, Presley took the loss and dropped to 1-4 on the season.
The Argos have three games remaining in the regular season, and will play those games at Pelican Park on April 26th and 27th against GSC rival Valdosta State. The Argos are 4-11 in conference play and still have a shot at post season play, if they can take care of business against the Blazers, who are the current first place team with a 9-2 conference record.
West Florida needs to finish in fourth place to make the conference tournament, and currently fourth place is held by North Alabama, who has five wins. West Georgia is also percentage points ahead of West Florida, but also only has four wins. If the Argos sweep Valdosta State, and North Alabama wins only one game in their remaining games against West Alabama and Alabama Huntsville, and West Georgia wins no more than two games in their final games against West Alabama and Alabama Huntsville, then the Argos will finish fourth and head to the conference tournament.
