NEW ALBANY, Miss. - Faulkner rode a six-run second inning and a strong outing from senior right-hander Julian Esquibel to a 10-1 victory over Blue Mountain here Monday and a sweep of their Southern States Athletic Conference three-game series.

With the win the top-ranked Eagles improve to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the SSAC, while the Toppers drop to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in league play. 

After surrendering a solo home run in the bottom of the first, Esquibel (2-0), allowed only three other hits in six innings of work, striking out five along the way. The Eagles got all they needed in  the second, sending 10 batters to the plate and collecting five hits in the decisive frame. Robert Llera had the big blow, driving in two runs with a double.

Sergio Sanchez and Randy Joung each had three hits for Faulkner, while Michael Cruz added two to the Eagles' 13-hit attack. Sanchez and Joung both scored a pair of runs as well.

"We played really good baseball today," Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy said. "We got great pitching and we hit the ball and ran the bases well. I'm pleased with where we are this early in the season."

Faulkner travels to Thomasville, Ga., this weekend to battle Thomas University in a non-conference, three-game series, with Friday's game set for a 3 p.m. start.