MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner hosted Southern States Athletic Conference division foe Belhaven in doubleheader action here at Wynn Field this evening. The No. 9 Blazers put Game 1 in the books with a 3-0 shutout before escaping a brief Faulkner lead to pick up the 8-2 victory in the nightcap.

Despite outstanding work in the circle from Mattie Dotson, the gauntlet of high-octane opponents over recent events has wrecked havoc on the Lady Eagle defense. With the pitching staff currently down to just one arm, it's been double-time for the sophomore righthander.

Dotson held the Blazers to just four hits and two earned runs in the opener, but a sluggish Faulkner offense failed to help balance the equation.

Erin Byrd mustered the Lady Eagles' lone hit and despite Belhaven's pitching slip that provided the home team with a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh, no runs were tallied.

Faulkner woke up a bit in the second event and produced two runs on five hits, but the visitors were more productive as well. The Blazers logged eight runs on 12 hits and three Lady Eagle errors.

Keri Hyde walked with the bases loaded and Byrd followed with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning to give Faulkner a 2-1 lead.

Two homers on back-to-back pitches in the top of the third set Faulkner back a notch however, and the team never recovered.

Dotson (6-13) led the defense for two and a third innings in Game 2 and allowed three hits and three earned runs.

Second baseman Tori Hollis has contributed significantly during the pitching drought by filling in the holes when needed. The junior stepped in and held the circle for the remainder of the event and gave up nine hits and five earned runs.

Byrd finished the second game 1-for-2 with an RBI. Tia Rogers and Hyde were both 1-for-3 and had an RBI and run respectively.

Faulkner dropped to 19-23-1 overall and 5-18-1 in the league. The Lady Eagles will host No. 22 Spring Hill in SSAC action on Tuesday. The doubleheader is set for 5 p.m.