ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Faulkner struck early and often against Saint Thomas (Fla.) in in the opening event here at the annual Gulf Coast Invitational this afternoon to earn the 8-5 victory before fending off a Blue Mountain rally to clinch the 7-5 win in the nightcap.

Tori Hollis cranked a two-RBI double scoring Keri Hyde from first to put the Lady Eagles on the board in the top of the first inning in Game 1.

Faulkner was back at it again in the fourth when Erin Byrd's double drove in a run and Sophie Slemp capped the inning's scoring effort with a two-RBI double extending the lead to 6-0.

The Lady Eagles posted another run in the top of the sixth, but Saint Thomas managed to break the scoring silence with a run of their own that same inning.

Faulkner scored its final run in the seventh, but a series of defensive blunders gave new life to the Bobcats and helped usher in four additional runs before the Lady Eagles    finally closed the door.

Natalie Walker (3-0) secured the win in the opener allowing just five hits and two earned runs over six and a third innings. The junior logged three strikeouts.

Sophomore Mattie Dotson got the save facing the final two batters. She allowed a single hit.

Hyde was 2-for-4 in the event and scored twice. Hollis was 1-for-4 and Slemp was 1-for-3 and each accounted for two RBIs.

Game 2 looked like more of the same with Faulkner jumping out to an early lead. Abbie Pierce's double in the second inning put her in scoring position and Avery Mott brought her home with a single to deep center.

Slemp's second two-RBI double of the afternoon came in the third inning against the Toppers giving Faulkner a 3-0 lead.

Hollis knocked in a pair of runs with a brilliant triple down the first base line and Morgan Martin followed with an RBI single extending the Lady Eagle lead to six runs.

Blue Mountain's four-run fifth inning closed the gap tremendously, however. Meggin Nelson did much of the damage with a three-RBI double to center.

The toppers scored once more in the sixth before Faulkner's defense remedied the problem.

Chelsey Dunnaway (4-0) remains perfect on the year with the win. The junior scattered seven hits over as many innings and allowed four earned runs while putting away nine at the plate.

Mott finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Hollis was hot on her heels with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate knocking in two runs and scoring twice. Slemp was again 1-for-3 and had two RBIs.

Faulkner moves to 9-1 and will open round two of the Invitational on Saturday against Georgia Gwinnett at 9 a.m.