MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Mobile claimed a 2-0 shutout in Game 1 before rallying in the seventh inning of the nightcap to clip Faulkner 4-2 in this afternoon's Southern States Athletic Conference and season finale here at Wynn Field.

The Rams' leadoff triple in the top of the first inning set up the first score in the opener and Mobile added to the total with an RBI-single in the fifth.

Faulkner did threaten in the bottom of the second, but a force out at home was as close as the Lady Eagles got to scoring.

The home team wasted little time in proving that down didn't mean out and struck early in Game 2.

Faulkner's first effort to tally a run came up short when Keri Hyde was ruled out on a close call at the plate in the first inning. Amanda Seales reached home on a fielder's choice the very next play however, to give the Lady Eagles their first lead of the series.

Mobile tied the event in its following at-bat, but Faulkner quickly reclaimed the lead when Hannah Qualls scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the second.

Rachel Reiswig caught a sacrifice fly in center field with one out on the board in the top of the sixth and a rapid relay to third caught a runner trying to gain an additional base. The Rams managed to score during the throw however, moving the game back into a stalemate.

The visitors hung two more runs and ultimately clinched the victory in the top of the seventh on a two-hit, two-error combination.

Mattie Dotson (6-15) gave up just five hits and two earned runs in the Game 1 loss. Two hits and an earned run in one and two-thirds innings of work in the nightcap however, ushered in a second loss.

Tori Hollis held the circle for five and a third innings in Game 2 and allowed seven hits and two earned runs while putting away two batters at the plate.

Keri Hyde was 2-for-4 in the second game.

Seales and Qualls each had a hit and scored and Reiswig had a hit and drove in a run.

The Lady Eagles exploded onto the scene with a program best 17-3-1 start this season.  Stellar work both at the plate and in the circle instilled confidence and resilience in a team that was uncertain of itself early on.

Things began to shift when Faulkner opened division play on the road in late March, however. Back-to-back sweeps and a season-ending injury to starting pitcher Chelsey Dunnaway dealt the team a tough blow.

The Lady Eagles rebounded with a sweep of No. 6 Auburn Montgomery, but the excitement was short-lived.

Additional injuries and the constant brutality of SSAC West Division showdowns ultimately took their toll and the team and Faulkner unfortunately found itself trying to cope with two additional program firsts - a 20-game losing streak and its absence from the conference tournament.

"I keep trying to figure out what happened this season," head coach Hal Wynn told his team after the games. "I simply don't have an answer. If you told me at the beginning of the season we'd start of like we did, I'd have said "no way." Then if you'd told me we'd end the way we did, I'd have said, "no way." It's just one of those things I'll never have an answer for."

"It's a tough league, but you guys never gave up, you never quit, and I'm proud of you for that. We have to learn from our mistakes. It's never fun, but it's important. You need to take that away from the field and into life. You will make mistakes, but the important thing is to try not to make the same ones over again. If you can do that, you'll be successful."

Faulkner closed the season at 19-27-1 overall and 5-22-1 in the league.