RELATED: Montevallo Pulls Out Win Over Softball, 4-2

MONTEVALLO, Ala - After tying up the contest at two runs apiece by the top of the sixth inning, the visiting UNC Pembroke softball team could not halt the comeback surge in the bottom of the seventh inning by Montevallo as the Falcons claimed the 3-2 win to complete the sweep in the Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Orr Park.

The loss was the second-straight for UNCP (16-13, 2-8 PBC), while Montevallo (17-20, 7-7 PBC) grabbed a .500 record in league play.

UNCP had five different Braves post a hit as freshmen Jamie Johnson and Taylor Gerhart each tallied two hits. Senior Karlee Wilson finished the game 1-for-2 with a run and the only RBI of the game for the Black and Gold. Montevallo was led by Kelsey Vining as she was 3-for-4 from the plate with Jessica Mentzer leading the team with three RBI. 

Senior Selena Ashley went the first six innings in the middle for UNCP and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts before being relieved by junior Katie Saunders (8-7) for the final two outs. Saunders suffered the loss as Montevallo scored the game-winning run in the seventh. Jostlyn Higgerson (13-13) notched the win with 5-1/3 innings pitched and one unearned run on two hits, before Jana Armstrong finished off the 1-2/3 innings with one earned run on five hits. 

Montevallo seized the one run lead in the first inning on a single, before the Braves tied the game in the third inning. Wilson doubled to left centerfield and scored on the throwing error in Whitney Jackson's at-bat. 

In the bottom of the third, the Falcons regained the lead with another single up the middle, but the resilient Braves pushed the game to a 2-2 score as UNCP notched four-consecutive singles. Freshman Toni Nelson advanced to first on a base hit and proceeded to second on a single, third on a fielder's choice and crossed home plate as Wilson was walked. 

The game moved back into Montevallo's favor after Vining's base hit up the middle and was driven home on a groundout to the pitcher for the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the victory.

UNCP will continue on the road on Wednesday with a regional doubleheader against Winston-Salem (4-11) in Winston-Salem with first pitch set for 2 p.m.