MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner stunned No. 6 William Carey when it fended off a seventh inning rally effort to secure the 2-1 upset in the opener of the Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader here at Wynn Field this afternoon. The Crusaders erased a 4-0 Lady Eagle lead in devastating fashion with 13 unanswered runs in the nightcap, however, to claim the 13-4 victory.

Tori Hollis drove in Faulkner's first run of the day with a hard double to right field and Hannah Qualls followed with an RBI single to give the home team a 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning of Game 1.

William Carey (38-6, 21-5 SSAC) illuminated the scoreboard for the first time in its final at bat, but the Lady Eagles put a stopper in the surge before the visitors could gain further momentum.

The home team went to work early in the second event as well. Emily Byrd offered up a sacrifice fly and Amanda Seals drove in another run with a single up the middle before Abbie Pierce capped Faulkner's scoring efforts with a two-RBI double to right center.

The Crusaders bounced back quickly, however, with three runs of their own in their subsequent at bat, but it was their impressive 10-run sixth inning that sent the game into an early close. 

Chelsey Dunnaway (4-13) scattered just four hits and allowed only a single earned run while striking out six batters in her biggest win of the season.

Natalie Walker (2-5) gave up six hits and seven runs, while striking out five in five innings of work in the Game 2 loss.

Mattie Dotson entered the event in the sixth inning and allowed three hits and six runs in 1/3 of an inning.

Hayden Strickland finally retired the side giving up four hits and a run.

A host of Lady Eagles posted impressive offensive numbers in the series. Hollis was 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run in the opener and Keri Hyde went 2-for-2 and scored.

Seales mirrored Hollis' numbers in the night cap, while Morgan Martin was 2-for-3 with a run and Pierce went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

The split moved Faulkner to 15-24 overall and 7-17. The Lady Eagles will hit the road this weekend for a pair of crucial doubleheaders as they jockey for the final spot in the conference tournament next week. Faulkner visits Bethel (Tenn.) on Friday. Game 1 of the series is set for 2 p.m.