GULF SHORES, Fla. - A four-run seventh inning wasn't enough to pull Faulkner out of a six-run deficit against No. 23 Central Methodist in today's pool play opener here in the Gulf Coast Invitational. The Lady Eagles ultimately fell 9-7, but managed to clip Campbellsville 2-1 in an eight-inning battle in the nightcap.  

Tori Hollis helped Faulkner rebound from a sloppy start against CMU with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the third inning, Hannah Qualls followed with an RBI single of her own to move the the event into a 3-3 tie.

CMU continued to capitalize at the plate however, as the Lady Eagle pitching crew struggled with the strike zone. Faulkner walked 11 batters in the game while striking out only three.

The visitors held a confident 9-3 lead heading into Faulkner's final at bat, but the Lady Eagles were far from done.

Hollis went to work with her second two-RBI double of the outing and Qualls drove her in just moments later.

Jacqui Wynn's sacrifice fly narrowed the gap even more, but CMU was able to extinguish the fire before further damage could be done.

A solo home run from Brittany Rippy put Campbellsville in the lead in the top of the fifth inning in Game 2, but Faulkner responded in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot to left field courtesy of Abbie Pierce sending the game into extended play.

The eighth inning ushered in the international tie-breaker rule which allows each offense to begin with a runner at second base.

A smart Faulkner defense anchored by Mattie Dotson's solid work in the circle thwarted the Tiger scoring threat, while Lady Eagles made good on the runner advantage when Hollis chipped an 0-2 pitch into shallow center knocking in the game-winning run.

Natalie Walker (2-2) gave up seven hits and four earned runs in just over four innings of work in the Game 1 loss.

Chelsey Dunnaway and Hayden Strickland held the circle for the remainder of the outing and neither pitcher allowed any hits or earned runs.

Dotson (4-0) remains unbeaten on the year and gave up just three hits and one earned run while striking out six in the win against Campbellsville.

Hollis accounted for three hits, five RBIs and two runs on the day and Qualls had a pair of RBIs.

Keri Hyde was 2-for-3 with two runs in the opener.

Faulkner (8-4) will continue in the single-elimination silver bracket Sunday morning beginning at 9 a.m. The opponent has yet to be determined.