By Sarah Turner, Sports editor 

As the weather begins to change, it’s time to shift our attention to Montevallo’s spring sports. Several key athletes will once again suit up in the purple and gold, with high expectations stretching from Kermit A. Johnson Field to Central State Bank Arena. Building on momentum from the fall and winter seasons, Montevallo’s spring programs enter the coming months with depth, experience, and the potential to make noise in conference play and beyond. 

Additionally, though not mentioned here, track and field will also carry over into the spring as the outdoor season follows the conclusion of indoor competition, while golf and tennis return to action looking to build on the progress made during their fall campaigns. 

Baseball 

While a 29-25 overall record may not have fully reflected the Falcons’ ambitions, the Falcons repeatedly proved in 2025 that they could rise to the occasion. Initially picked to finish fifth in the GSC preseason poll, the Falcons announced themselves early with a statement win over the No. 1 team in the country, defeating defending national champion Tampa 5-2 in February. 

That theme carried through the postseason, as Montevallo advanced to the GSC Championship game for the first time since 2014 after knocking off top-seeded Delta State in the opening round. Although the Falcons ultimately fell to West Alabama in the title game, the run marked one of the program’s most successful postseasons in over a decade. 

Much of that core returns to the diamond for the GSC preseason No. 7 squad in 2026, including Second-Team All-GSC selections Evan Radford and McGwire Turner. On the mound, Logan Medsker and Matthew Bullard are back after combining for an 8-5 record last season. Turner, Radford and Bullard were all named to the GSC Top Returners list, and Turner and Radford were also named Preseason All-South Region. Head coach Chandler Rose, who earned his 400th career win during the GSC Tournament, has also bolstered the roster with a strong incoming class of nine freshmen and 15 transfers poised to make an immediate impact. Transfers Caleb Karll and Bodie Vail, along with freshman Luke Holbrook, were selected as Newcomers to Watch. The Falcons will begin conference play against West Florida on Feb. 13-14. 

Softball 

Head coach Beth Wade’s squad entered the 2025 season picked 10th in the GSC preseason poll, but a 31-24 finish suggested the Falcons may be poised for even more in 2026. As the No. 7 seed, Montevallo advanced to Day Three of the GSC Tournament before closing its season with a 5-1 loss to the University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

The Falcons were especially strong at home, posting a 15-6 record despite returning a roster that had lost several key contributors from the year prior. That resilience is a major reason for optimism heading into the new season. 

Perhaps most encouraging is the return of three Second-Team All-GSC selections in Taylor Lloyd, Becca Benton, and Bentlee Stiner. Lloyd, a preseason All-GSC selection, anchored the pitching staff with a 2.15 ERA, seventh-best in the conference, while also recording 14 wins and 131 strikeouts across 163 innings. At the plate, Benton hit .299 and led the team with 34 RBIs, while Stiner added seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and 40 runs scored. Senior Rylee Tyree is another to name to note who was selected to the preseason All-GSC list. 

The preseason No. 7 squad also adds seven true freshmen along with a small group of transfers to bolster both its pitching depth and offensive production in 2026. The Falcons will open the season in Gulf Shores on Jan. 30 against Middle Georgia State and Rogers State, with their home opener scheduled for Feb. 10 versus Miles College. 

Acrobatics and Tumbling 

The newest addition to the Montevallo athletics family made an immediate impact in its inaugural season, bringing high-energy stunts to UM’s campus. The Falcons finished 3-5 in their first year of competition, an impressive mark for a program still in its infancy. Two of those wins came against in-state opponent Talladega College, the only other A&T program in Alabama, while the third victory came over East Texas Baptist. 

​​Another milestone awaits this spring, as the program officially joins Conference Carolinas, making it eligible for the conference championship in April. The Conference Carolinas preseason No. 5 Falcons will return much of last year’s roster to the mat, with sophomores Lexie Cole, Rilyn McAllister and Katie Quinn being named to the conference Players to Watch list. Along with their valuable experience, head coach Kati Horstmann also bolstered the roster by adding eight true freshmen in the offseason, each expected to contribute a diverse skill set. 

The Falcons open their season at home on Feb. 12 against Saint Leo University, one of three opportunities to catch acrobatics and tumbling in action in Central State Bank Arena in 2026. 

Men’s Lacrosse 

The preseason Peach Belt Conference No. 2 Falcons have spent the offseason preparing to build on a successful 2025 campaign that ended with a 10-6 overall record. Among the season’s highlights was a statement 13-12 victory over then–No. 9 Indianapolis during the regular season, a result that strengthened Montevallo’s standing entering PBC play. The year ultimately concluded with a 12-7 loss to No. 2 Flagler College in the PBC semifinals.   

Montevallo also earned its first NCAA Division II statistical championship, leading the nation with an average of 44.94 ground balls per game. Individually, eight Falcons received All-PBC recognition in 2025, with six of those honorees returning this season. Alex Egorshin was named Goalkeeper of the Year, Matthew Boas earned Co-Attacker of the Year honors, and Michael Howkins was recognized as Freshman of the Year. Caden Chalut and Ryan Andrews collected First-Team selections, while Brandon Shaffner earned Second-Team honors. Ahead of this season, Egorshin, Boas and Shaffner have earned preseason All-PBC selections.  

The Falcons will play their first game at home against Mars Hill University on Feb. 18.  

Women’s Lacrosse 

There is plenty of reason for optimism surrounding Montevallo women’s lacrosse heading into the new season. Injuries slowed the Falcons in 2025, and a 5-10 overall record fell short of expectations, but a healthier and deeper roster has the program poised for a rebound.  

Montevallo faced five ranked opponents a year ago, a challenging schedule that tested the group and helped accelerate its development. Leading the returners is junior Ellery Shearer, who has earned All-GSC honors in each of her first two seasons with the purple and gold. preseason All-GSC selection Shearer finished second in the conference with 45 goals in 2025 and opened the season with seven goals in each of the Falcons’ first two games, tying for the highest single-game total by a GSC player last season. 

The experienced core, headlined by Shearer, will be complemented by nine true freshmen, as head coach Adrianna Piontek has been hot on the recruiting trail. Juniors Kennedy Goddard and Gencie Coan, along with freshman Hailey Jasuta made the Newcomers to Watch list. The Falcons are picked to tie in 4th place with Lee in the GSC preseason poll, and will open the season on the road with their first home game on Feb. 14 to face Young Harris College.