MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner squandered a five-run lead late in today's season opener and fell 11-9 to No. 5 Reinhardt before putting a stopper in the visitors' comeback effort and clinching the 6-5 victory in the nightcap here at Wynn Field. 

The home team crept out to a first-inning lead in Game 1, but Reinhardt responded quickly with four runs in the second punctuated by a Katie Reitkovich solo home run to dead centerfield. 

Faulkner catapulted itself back into the driver's seat with four runs in its subsequent at bat.

Keri Hyde sparked the Lady Eagle slugfest with a two-RBI triple to right center and scored on Amanda Seales' ensuing double. Tori Hollis followed with an RBI-double of her own.

Faulkner tacked on two more runs in the third inning with a two-RBI double courtesy of Hollis and extended its lead to 9-5 after five innings of play.

Reinhardt refused to go quietly, however, and clawed its way back into the lead with an explosive six-run sixth inning. The visiting Lady Eagles connected for three runs on three individual efforts before Taylor Braselton crushed a three-run shot to the left field bullpen, taking the lead.

Reinhardt scored again in the seventh to secure the two-run decision.

Senior Natalie Walker (0-1) held the circle for Faulkner in Game 1 and allowed 11 hits and seven earned runs will striking out nine batters in just under six innings of work.

Freshman Hayden Strickland finished the game for the Lady Eagles allowing two hits and one earned run.

Faulkner wasted little time in igniting the scoreboard in Game 2 and posted five runs before the close of the first inning.

Reinhardt walked in the game's first score, but Hannah Qualls' three-RBI triple put Faulkner on the earning end of things.

The visitors responded with three runs of their own the following inning, while Faulkner capped its scoring effort with a single run in the fifth.

Reinhardt gave Faulkner a scare in the top of the seventh when Randi Wimpy sent a two-run shot over the fence at center, but a scrappy Lady Eagle defensive closed the event without further damage.

Chelsey Dunnaway (1-0) gave up eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out four batters in the win.

Hollis was 4-for-5 with three RBIs in the opener. Hyde, Seales and Kendra Orozco were each 3-for-5 in the contest. Hyde contributed a pair of RBIs and scored three times while Seales logged four runs and knocked in another and Orosco tallied an RBI.

Qualls was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a scored run in Game 2.

Faulkner (1-1) will next take on Martin Methodist on Feb. 19. The non-conference doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. in Pulaski, Tenn.