Story By: Sarah Turner

After a 3-4 start to the 2026 season, Montevallo Falcons baseball opened Gulf South Conference play at home against West Florida Argonauts on Friday, Feb. 13, the preseason No. 1 team in the Gulf South Conference and the No. 8 team in the nation.

Last season, the Falcons finished 29-25 overall and 16-17 in conference play, records that didn’t fully capture the talent on the roster. But time and again, Montevallo proved capable of rising to the occasion, particularly when the stakes were highest.

Picked fifth in the 2025 GSC preseason poll released in early January, the Falcons made an immediate statement in February, upsetting the nation’s top-ranked and defending national champion Tampa 5-2. The Spartans would later go on to repeat as national champions, further underscoring the significance of the win.

That momentum carried into the postseason. Montevallo advanced to the GSC Championship game for the first time since 2014 after knocking off top-seeded Delta State in the opening round. 

The Falcons’ improbable title run ultimately ended with a loss to West Alabama, but the appearance marked one of the program’s most successful postseasons in over a decade.

While Montevallo did lose left-handed ace Adiel Melendez, who signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Braves in July, much of the core returns for the GSC preseason No. 7 squad in 2026.

Second-Team All-GSC selections Evan Radford and McGwire Turner are back in the lineup, while Logan Medsker and Matthew Bullard return to anchor the pitching staff after combining for an 8-5 record last season. Turner, Radford and Bullard were all named to the GSC Top Returners list entering the year.

In his 16th season at the helm, head coach Chandler Rose has also reloaded the roster, adding nine freshmen and 15 transfers expected to make an immediate impact. Transfers Caleb Karll and Bodie Vail, along with freshman Luke Holbrook, were all named GSC Newcomers to Watch ahead of the season.

In the opening game against West Florida, the Falcons delivered a surprisingly dominant 9-0 victory. Radford led the way with three hits, five RBIs, and a home run, while Turner added three hits and scored three runs. On the mound, Zach Wyatt was outstanding, allowing just four hits over seven innings while striking out six.

West Florida responded well in Friday’s second game. After the Argonauts scored first, Montevallo surged ahead with a three-run second inning, but the Falcons couldn’t sustain the offensive momentum, falling 6-4.

The finale on Saturday, Feb. 14, was another tight battle, but West Florida edged Montevallo 2-0 to claim the series.

With last spring’s momentum still fresh and a deep roster in place, the Falcons will look to carry that edge throughout the 2026 season.