COLUMBUS, Ga. - Right-hander Johnny Shuttlesworth was in complete command from the outset, and first baseman Cayleb Coker sparkled at the plate and in the field as Faulkner ripped Southern Poly 10-0 here Wednesday night in a seven-inning run rule game on the second day of the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament at Golden Park.
Shuttlesworth, a senior who was named the league's top pitcher at the post-season banquet Monday night, lived up to the billing against the Hornets, allowing only two hits and needing only 85 pitches to earn his 12th victory of the season against only one loss. Southern Poly starter Matt Adams (5-2), who four-hit the Eagles three weeks ago in a Hornet victory in Montgomery, lasted only an inning and a third, surrendering three runs on two hits and walking five Faulkner batters.
Coker made a pair of spectacular plays in the hole at first to thwart any possible Hornet threat, and also had three hits, three runs scored and an RBI to pace the Faulkner effort. Zak Colby added three hits for the second-ranked Eagles (46-10), who also got two hits apiece from Dauris Holguin and Luis Sanchez. For the night, the bottom half of the Faulkner lineup accounted for seven runs, seven hits and five RBIs.
"It's really scary how we're playing right now," said Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy, whose Eagles blasted AUM 19-6 in another run-rule game on the tournament's first day. "We played well defensively and we're hitting the ball up and down our lineup, and we're getting great starting pitching. A coach can't ask for much more than that."
Faulkner scored twice in the first inning and once in each of the second and third to build a 4-0 lead for Shuttlesworth. The fifth and sixth innings produced three runs apiece to push the margin to 10, and the Tuscaloosa native slammed the door from there, allowing only one Hornet baserunner to reach second base.
Faulkner battles Belhaven Thursday night at 6 in its final game of pool play with a chance to nail down a spot in Saturday afternoon's championship game. If the Blazers win, the Eagles could still make it to Saturday, but would need some help on Friday - the final day of pool play.
