MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Will Dismukes allowed only three hits and struck out seven in a complete-game performance, lifting Faulkner past Brewton-Parker 3-1 here Saturday afternoon in the opener of a doubleheader, only to have the Barons bounce back with a big inning in the nightcap to gain a split with a 5-3 victory in Southern States Athletic Conference action at Harrison Field.
Faulkner (12-4 overall, 4-2 SSAC) took two of three games in the series for the second straight weekend, a pattern that Eagles' head coach Patrick McCarthy likes to see.
"We didn't play very well today, but at the end of the day we won another series against two of the top teams in our conference," said McCarthy, whose Eagles won two games against Auburn Montgomery in the opening weekend of SSAC play. "We had an outstanding outing by Will Dismukes, and great pitching from Casey Wilson and Damon Porter in relief in the second game. I'm disappointed in how we played, but it's always positive when you can win the series."
In the opener, Faulkner's Tucker Willard, Zach Colby and Matt Creel all singled in the first, and a wild pitch from Barons' starter Joel McLaughlin (5-1) plated the first run, giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage. Brewton-Parker's John Carr singled in a run with two outs in the fourth to tie it, but Faulkner answered an inning later to take the lead for good. After Willard doubled with one out, Zach Colby singled him in to put the Eagles on top 2-1.
Faulkner added an insurance run in the sixth for Dismukes (3-0), who surrendered just three singles to the Barons. Creel had three hits for Faulkner, which got a pair of hits apiece from Willard and Colby.
A bases-loaded walk forced in Willard in the bottom of the first of Game 2 to hand Faulkner a 1-0 lead, but it would be short-lived. Creel, who started on the mound for the Eagles, allowed a pair of hits in a three-run second for Brewton-Parker, which also benefitted from two Faulkner errors in the inning.
Faulkner tied it in the fifth on a two-run single by Daniel Cayton, only to have the Barons score single runs in their next two at-bats to take control. The Eagles managed only two hits over the final four innings against Brewton-Parker reliever Ben Gillespie (3-0), who struck out nine batters in the 12 outs he recorded to earn the win for the Barons (14-6 overall, 4-2 SSAC). Wilson, in relief of Creel, took the loss. Craig Massey and Creel each had two hits in the loss for Faulkner.
The Eagles host Reinhardt in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Harrison Field. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 3 p.m.
