COCHRAN, Ga. - Alexis Cruz blasted a two-run homer to break a tie in the top of the ninth and third-ranked Faulkner held on for an 8-7 victory here Friday afternoon over Middle Georgia State in the opener of a three-game Southern States Athletic Conference series at Stuckey Field.

The game was tied at six when the Eagles' Darrius Jennings singled with one out in the ninth. Cruz followed with his fourth home run of the season over the right-field wall. Faulkner closer Austin Moreland gave up a pair of bottom-of-the-ninth doubles that trimmed the lead to one before striking out the final two Knight batters to end it.

Faulkner improved to 13-4 overall and 1-0 in the SSAC, while Middle Georgia State dropped to 17-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.

Jennings, Cruz and Mario Amaral each had three hits for the Eagles, while David Palenzuela and Dario Polanco added two apiece. Miguel Castellanos recorded the final two outs of the eighth inning to notch his first  victory of the season, while Moreland picked up his fourth save. Evan Till took the loss for the Knights.

The game started fast for both teams, with each touching up the starting pitchers in the opening inning. The Eagles strung together four hits off of Chris Rich, producing three runs. Palenzuela's double and Amaral's single drove in two runs, and Deivy Palmeiro's sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the first the Knights struck right back, collecting two runs on five singles against Mark Vasquez to make it 3-2.

Cruz increased Faulkner's advantage to 4-2 in the second with a two-out single. Middle Georgia State tied it in the fourth on Jesus Monserrat's two-run double. An unearned run the top of the sixth gave Faulkner the lead again, and Amaral's solo homer in the eighth padded the margin to 6-4. The Knights answered, however, with Bryce Todd's run-scoring single and Monserrat's sacrifice fly sending the game to the ninth inning tied at 6.

Faulkner and Middle Georgia State conclude their series with a Saturday doubleheader. The first pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for noon.