MOBILE, Ala. – Chris Madera's run-scoring triple scored Dario Polanco in the top of the eighth inning to break a tie game and undefeated Faulkner escaped with a 5-3 victory here Friday afternoon in the opener of Southern States Athletic Conference action for both teams at Jacobs Field.

Madera's triple was followed by an RBI single by Alexis Torres to give the Eagles their two-run cushion, and allowed Alejandro Castro (2-0) to earn the victory in relief of starter Phillip Anderson. Closer Jack Charleston struck out two batters in a perfect ninth for his second save of the season. With the victory, the fifth-ranked Eagles moved to 9-0 and 1-0 in the league, while Mobile fell to 8-3 and 0-1.

"We kept responding today, and to do that on the road against a really good team is encouraging," said McCarthy, his Eagles having played their first eight games at home at Harrison Field. "We faced some adversity again, but we found a way when had to have it. These types of games do nothing but help you grow as a team and help you as the season wears on."

After Roman Testani gave Mobile the lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI single, Faulkner answered back in the top of the third. Edgar Figueroa singled to open the inning and one out later Polanco singled. Madera's fly ball to right advanced the runners to second and third, and Torres' two-out double scored them both to put the Eagles on top 2-1.

Faulkner added to its lead in the seventh when pinch hitter Randy Joung singled in Cody Sos, who had reached on a base hit earlier in the inning. Trailing 3-1, Mobile tied it in its half of the seventh, scoring a pair of unearned runs. With one out Wes Runnels doubled to chase Anderson, and scored an out later on Figueroa's throwing error. Braxton Hamil's infield single in the inning tied the score at 3, setting the stage for the decisive eighth inning.

Castro retired all four batters he faced, recording the final out of the seventh inning and retiring all three batters in the eighth for the Eagles before handing the ball to Charleston for his dominating ninth.

 Torres had two hits and drove in three Faulkner runs, while Polanco had a pair of hits and scored twice. Hamil had two hits and an RBI for Mobile. The undefeated start to the season is the best in the six-year tenure at Faulkner for head coach Patrick McCarthy.

The Eagles and the Rams play a Saturday doubleheader, with Game 1 set to start at 1 p.m.