GULF SHORES, Ala. - Faulkner experienced a dose of deja vu here in the closing round of the Gulf Coast Invitational when it opened the day with a big win and closed it with last second heartbreak. The Lady Eagles crushed Thomas 10-0 in six innings before falling to Central Methodist 4-3 on a last second play at home in the eighth inning.
Faulkner struck early and often in the silver bracket semifinal matchup against the Nighthawks and ended things in style when Heather Smith hammered a walk off grand slam to bring the contest to an early close. It was her third home run of the weekend.
Missy Duke was brilliant on both sides of the ball for the Lady Eagles. She scattered three hits over six innings and had nine strikeouts in her second shutout of the tournament. She was also 2-for-3 on offense.
Smith finished the game 1-for-2 and had four RBIs and scored.
Haley Munroe was 2-for-4 and scored three runs and Tori Hollis and was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
The massive win catapulted Faulkner into the silver bracket championship, but when Southern States Athletic Conference division rival Spring Hill earned the other spot, both teams agreed to forego the final bout. While Spring Hill began the short trek home, Faulkner lined up an alternate game with Central Methodist, the other silver bracket semifinalist.
Central Methodist claimed a 1-0 lead early on when an error on a throw to third cleared the lane home.
Faulkner slipped ahead the following inning when Kayla Hall ripped a two-RBI single to right field, but Central Methodist bounced back to tie the contest in the third.
Both teams battled to take control with the Lady Eagles escaping two bases loaded, one out situations to preserve the tie. Faulkner was also unable to drive in runners in scoring position and the game moved into extra innings.
Central Methodist produced two runs on three hits in the top of the eighth forcing Faulkner to answer.
Hollis sent the first pitch of the at-bat to deep center, scoring a run from second under the international tiebreaker rule.
Just minutes later Duke cracked a shot up the gut with two outs on the board, sending Cassie Gable sprinting home from second looking for the tie. A well-thrown ball from center ended Faulkner's rally however, and for the second time in three games, the Lady Eagles suffered a one run loss on a play at home in the bottom of the eighth.
Hollis was 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored in Game 2. Hall finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and Munroe was 2-for-4.
Mattie Dotson allowed nine hits and only a single earned run while striking out three hitters in the loss.
Faulkner was 3-3 in the tournament and moved to 4-6 on the year. The Lady Eagles will enter a rematch with Thomas on Friday when they travel to Georgia for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
