MONTGOMERY, Ala. - William Carey senior pitcher Jake Fabre completely handcuffed Faulkner here Friday night, and the Crusader bats pounded out 11 hits en route to a 7-0 victory over the Eagles in the opener of a key Southern States Athletic Conference three-game series at Harrison Field.

The victory moves William Carey (19-2 overall, 11-2 SSAC) into a tie with the ninth-ranked Eagles (23-5 overall, 11-2 SSAC) atop the league standings, with Saturday's doubleheader to decide who's in front after the weekend.

Fabre, named the SSAC's pitcher of the week Monday, made sure Game 1 of the series was never in doubt, allowing only three hits in eight innings of work. He struck out 10 and walked only three in improving to 4-0. He got all the support he would need when the Crusaders broke on top in the fourth, scoring a run when a pitch from Faulkner starter Johnny Shuttlesworth got past catcher Zak Colby, allowing Vito Perna to cross the plate.

William Carey added to its lead an inning later when Mitch Bohon doubled in two runs, and Scott Fabre's three-run homer in the seventh put the game away. Shuttlesworth (6-1) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing six runs on eight hits in seven innings.

Sergio Sanchez had a single and a double to pace Faulkner's limited attack.

"Give their guy credit," Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy said. "He kept us off-balance the whole game. We have to be ready and bounce back tomorrow."