GULF SHORES, Ala. - Faulkner entered the opening round of the Gulf Coast Invitational here this afternoon and earned a shutout victory over William Woods 6-0 before falling to Bethel (Tenn.) 5-3 in the nightcap.

Faulkner dominated in odd innings of the opener posting a pair of runs in the third, fifth and seventh.

Heather Smith was a force at the plate for the Lady Eagles contributing to five of Faulkner's six runs. The senior got things going with an RBI double to elevate her team to 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Smith doubled the score in the fifth when she cranked a two-run blast over dead center and her assault at the plate culminated with a two-RBI double in the seventh.

She finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBIs and a scored run.

While Smith anchored the offense, another senior dominated from the circle for Faulkner.

Missy Duke (2-1) scattered four hits over seven innings and logged nine strikeouts in the shutout.

The Wildcats stung the Lady Eagles with a four-run first inning in Game 2 and added another score in the second.

Freshman Mattie Dotson found her rhythm late in the second inning and was able to hold the explosive Bethel offense at bay for the remainder of the outing.

As the Lady Eagle defense began to settle, the offense started to claw its way back from the deficit. Faulkner mustered three runs over five innings, but couldn't overcome the damage it endured early on.

Dotson (0-3) gave up six hits and allowed five earned runs in six innings of work. She tallied three strikeouts in the loss.

Keri Hyde was 2-for-3 in Game 1 and scored twice. Haley Munroe went 1-for-3 and knocked in the game's first run.

Brooke Cheatham was 1-for-3 with an RBI in the second event. Hyde was also 1-for-3 and scored a run and Erin Byrd had an RBI.

Faulkner moved to 2-4 on the year and will resume Invitational play Saturday with Notre Dame College at 1 p.m.