MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The No. 7 Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks softball team (39-7, GSC: 22-7) took a short road trip to Montevallo, Alabama to face one of the top teams in the Gulf South Conference, the No. 20 Montevallo Falcons (39-10, GSC: 19-10), in a doubleheader on Friday evening. The Warhawks took a 5-1 game one victory before following up with an 8-3 defeat of the Falcons in game two, clinching the series.
 
COACH WILKES LANEY'S COMMENTS
"Offensively, we really stepped up today – 19 hits on the day with a few long balls. Defense wasn't perfect, but we bounced back and our pitchers did really well only giving up one earned run in 14 innings. Feels good to win the series on the first day, but we aren't done yet."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One: AUM 5, UM 1
After two scoreless innings, highlighted by Reese Cauley retiring the side in both frames, AUM broke through in the top of the third. Jasmine Sneed led off with a single before an unconventional sequence sparked the offense. Chloe Baynes reached on a throwing error by the Falcon's third baseman, whose throw sailed high. The miscue allowed Sneed to circle the bases and score, while Baynes used her speed to come all the way around as well, giving the Warhawks a 2-0 lead after three innings.
 
After striking out two in the previous inning, Cauley led things off with a solo home run to left-center field. Shortly after, Karris Rhine drew a walk, and Kennedy Sevcik followed by launching a two-run shot to right-center. The two-homer inning extended AUM's advantage to 5-0 through four.
 
Dominant in the circle, Cauley kept Montevallo off balance all afternoon. The Falcons were held hitless through six innings, as she retired the side in order in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
 
Montevallo managed to break up the no-hit bid with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late. Behind Cauley's complete-game effort and a powerful showing at the plate, the Warhawks secured a 5-1 victory in the series opener.
 
Game One Notables

• Reese Cauley improved to 24-1 after tossing her 21st complete game, going 7.0 innings with eight strikeouts. She allowed just one run on one hit and walked two. At the plate, her lone hit was a solo home run in the fourth, her fifth of the season.
• Chloe Baynes paced AUM's offense with two hits over four at-bats and scored one run.
• Kennedy Sevcik's two-run bomb in the fourth inning marked her first of the season.
• The Warhawks out-hit the Falcons, 7-1.

 
 
Game Two: AUM 8, UM 3
Rebecca Komers was the first on base in game two, reaching on an error by Montevallo's third basemen. As the next batter, Olivia Watkins worked a walk to land two runners on base for AUM. Sevcik, who homered in game one, powered an RBI-single to right field, allowing Komers to advance to third and score on an error by the right fielder.
 
Sydni Free struck out the Falcon's leadoff batter, but a pair of AUM errors let UM respond with a run and tie the score at one run apiece.
 
The orange and black's offense pushed ahead in the second frame, beginning with three consecutive base hits. Arianna Machado was the first on base, followed by Sneed, and Baynes. With the bases loaded, Gabbi Barnowsky reached on a fielder's choice while Montevallo's second basemen made the smart choice to throw the lead runner out at home. While the bases stayed full, Komers stepped up to bat and drilled a three-RBI double to right center, bringing all three runners in to score and putting AUM up 4-1.
 
The home team was able to hold AUM scoreless while grabbing a pair of unearned runs after an AUM error in the fourth inning, cutting the difference to 4-3.
 
Komers took her second hit of the game in the fifth inning with a bunt to the pitcher, placing her on first base. Watkins followed with a strong double to left center field, landing two runners in scoring position. As the next batter, Sevcik grounded out to first base, but not without advancing both runners, plating Komers. The Warhawk's efforts in the fifth frame brought its advantage to 5-3 with two innings left to play.
 
With Chelisa Newsome taking over the circle before the previous inning, she retired the Falcon's in order to close out the sixth.
 
With two-outs in the top of the seventh, Komers struck a double to left center field. Watkins then pushed an RBI-single up the middle, allowing Komers to score. With a runner on base, Sevcik smashed a two-run shot over the right center field fence to give AUM two more insurance runs. The Warhawks led 8-3 heading into the final half-inning of the day.
 
Newsome ended her outing by retiring the Falcon's in order, securing the series for the Warhawks with an 8-3 game two victory.
 
Game Two Notables

• Sydni Free improves to 6-1 with 4.0 innings of work, three strikeouts, and no earned runs allowed.
• Chelisa Newsome stepped in to pitch the final 3.0 innings of work while striking out two and holding the opponents hitless.
• After notching her first home run of the season in game one, Kennedy Sevcik added to her tally with another two-run shot in the sixth inning. She finished game two with two hits in four at-bats while scoring once and driving home four teammates.
• Rebecca Komers went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. She hit a double in both the second and seventh innings, bringing her season total to 12.
• Olivia Watkins recorded two hits over three attempts, scored a run, and brought in an RBI. Her fifth inning double marks her team-leading 13^th of the year.
• Karris Rhine took two hits in four at-bats.
• The Warhawks out-hit the Falcons 12-6.

 

  
UP NEXT
The Warhawks return to Montevallo tomorrow, Friday, April 24, to finish the series with the Falcons. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. from Orr Park.
 

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