MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner took on cross-town and Southern States Athletic Conference rival Auburn Montgomery in a key division doubleheader here this evening. Faulkner erupted with a four-run ninth inning to claim the opener 8-4 before crippling the Warhawks 7-3 in the nightcap.

AUM gave Faulkner a hand in the second inning of Game 1 when it walked in a pair of runs. 

The home team answered boldly in the bottom of the same inning however, when Jyssica Pepper and Katie Spain delivered back-to-back solo homers to tie the event.

Abbie Pierce knocked in a run for Faulkner in the top of the fifth inning and Keri Hyde scored on an error in the sixth to gain the 4-2 advantage.

Again, AUM rebounded when Kayla Hale crushed a two-run bomb to iron out the wrinkle in the bottom of the sixth.

The event remained in a gridlock until the Lady Eagles dealt the death-blow with two outs already on the board in the top of the ninth.

Morgan Martin sparked the fire with an RBI-single and Avery Mott drove in a pair of runs with a single of her own. Faulkner's final run scored on an AUM error at first base.

Mattie Dotson (6-3) kept the Warhawks off balance and allowed just five hits and four earned runs in nine innings from the circle. The sophomore had six strikeouts.

AUM attacked early and held a 1-0 lead after an inning of play in Game 2.

An RBI-double courtesy of Amanda Seals tied the contest in the third and Tori Hollis catapulted the visitors into the lead just moments later when a hard single found left center field, generating two more runs.

Erin Byrd added to the Faulkner lead with an RBI in the fourth.

The Warhawks wouldn't go quietly however, and worked their way into a bases-loaded situation in the fifth inning. Natalie Walker fought out of the rut however, catching Paige Nielsen looking on a pivotal strikeout.

Faulkner's Makenzie Anothony scored and two runners moved into scoring position on a fielder's choice effort that went sour in the top of the sixth. A sacrifice bunt from Byrd brought home another giving the Lady Eagles a 6-1 cushion.

Pepper ushered life back into the Warhawk dugout with a two-RBI double that same inning, but Faulkner widened the gap and ultimately secured the win with an additional run in the seventh.

Natalie Walker (7-3) scattered nine hits over seven innings and allowed just three earned runs while putting away six at the plate.

Hollis had two RBIs and two runs in the series while Martin and Hyde each drove in a run and scored twice. Mott had two RBIs and a run on the day.

Pierce was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs in the opener and Seals did the same in the second event.

Tia Rogers was 2-for-4 in Game 2 and scored and Byrd added a pair of RBIs.

Faulkner improved to 19-7-1 on the year and 5-4-1 in the league. The Lady Eagles will look to knock off another Top 10 division foe on Thursday when they head to Hattiesburg, Miss., to battle No. 9 William Carey. The doubleheader is set for 4 p.m.