MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Corey Black scattered four hits over seven innings and Brennan Olive hit a grand slam as Faulkner built a big lead, then held on to beat Brewton-Parker 11-8 here Friday night in the first game of a three-game Southern States Athletic Conference series at Harrison Field.

The Eagles (11-3 overall, 3-1 SSAC) scored three times in the first and twice in the second to build a 5-0 in support of Black, who struck out 10 Baron hitters and never allowed a runner to second base. When Olive blasted his grand slam in the bottom of the seventh Faulkner was coasting with a 9-0 lead.

Faulkner then turned to its bullpen, and the struggle began. In the eighth, the Barons fought back against a pair of Eagle relievers, who allowed five runs on three hits. Lyndon Eusea and Justin Hallmark were the victims of the Barons' rally, assisting the visitors by issuing a walk and hitting two batters as Brewton-Parker trimmed the Faulkner lead to 9-5.

Faulkner scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to push the lead back to 11-5, but the Eagles had some anxious moments in the ninth, as Brewton-Parker scored three more, two coming on Malcolm McCoy's double with two outs. Eagle closer Cory Hamilton had to come in and slam the door, coaxing a grounder to third to finally end it.

Craig Massey led the Faulkner attack with four hits, scoring three times and driving in a pair of runs. Daniel Cayton added a two-run double for the Eagles, who won their third straight SSAC game. Brewton-Parker fell to 13-5 overall and 3-1 in the SSAC.

Faulkner and Brewton-Parker finish out their three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday. Game 1 is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Harrison Field.