Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 By LENZIE GUIDRY
Faulkner Sports Network
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Christian Torres and Victor Arche both pitched complete-game shutouts as No. 3 Faulkner knocked off No. 6 Davenport 2-0 and Lindenwood-Belleville 6-0 here Saturday afternoon to sweep all four games it played this weekend at Harrison Field.
The Eagles (7-1) have now won five straight, and six of their seven victories have come against teams ranked in the NAIA's preseason Top 25 rankings.
Torres was brilliant in the win over the Panthers, allowing only three hits while recording six strikeouts, three of which came in the final inning. Arche was close behind, surrendering just five hits and striking out eight Lindenwood batters. On the day, the two pitchers combined to face the minimum in nine of the 14 innings played. Both Torres and Arche moved to 2-0 on the season.
Torres' gem overshadowed a sparkling performance by Davenport starting pitcher Bryan Saucedo, who had a no-hitter for Davenport through 5.2 innings. Faulkner scored a run without a hit in the third inning, with Nick Cain crossing on a squeeze bunt by Onix Martinez. David Palenzuela got Faulkner's first hit with two outs and a runner on first in the sixth, and after a walk loaded the bases, Deivy Palmeiro's run-scoring hit gave the Eagles' their two-run lead. Both of Faulkner's runs were scored by batters who had drawn walks.
"He could be as good a pitcher as we will face," Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy said. "Our guys showed some patience at the plate by drawing some key walks, and that sends the message that we don't always have rely on base hits to score runs."
In support of Arche against Lindenwood, T.J. Condon's RBI single in the first inning provided the Eagles with the only run they would need. Dario Polanco's two-run homer highlighted a three-run second inning as Faulkner raced to a 4-0 advantage. The Eagles added a pair of late runs, one coming on a Cain RBI, to put the Lynx away.
Faulkner hosts Reinhardt Tuesday afternoon at Harrison Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
