Box Score By DEAN KELLY, Faulkner Sports Network
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Nick Cain's solo homer in the bottom of the eighth sent Faulkner's Southern States Athletic Conference game with Loyola (La.) here Saturday night to extra innings and his three-run, walk-off blast in the 11th won it as the Eagles increased their winning streak to 15 games on a chilly night at Harrison Field.
Top-ranked Faulkner improved to 24-4 overall and 7-0 in the SSAC, while Loyola fell to 16-16 overall and 2-5 in the league. The two teams conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1.
Loyola scored first on an RBI double by Luis Anguizola in the first. Faulkner answered with a two-run homerun by Mario Amaral in the bottom of first to jump on top. The Wolfpack scored three runs on a bases-clearing double by Britt Pellegrin in the third to take a 4-2 lead. The Eagles answered with one run in their half of the third to pull within 4-3, setting the stage for Cain's heroics.
Faulkner pitchers combined to strike out 22 batters while walking six. At one point starter Mark Vazquez and relievers Brandon Suttles and Miguel Castellanos sat down 18 consecutive batters. Vasquez finished with a no-decision. He allowed all four runs on five hits, while striking out 13 in six innings. Suttles pitched a perfect two innings, striking out two. Castellanos (2-0) got the win with three innings of work, striking out seven and walking two. In the top of the 11th inning he recorded his final strikeout, which left the bases loaded for Loyola. Nick Moore (0-2) took the loss for the Wolfpack.
Cain led the way with four hits. Dario Polanco had three, with Darrius Jennings, Amaral and Deivy Palmeiro adding two apiece.
