MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner was needing to mirror last year's post-season run if it hoped to stay alive in this season's Southern States Athletic Conference tournament here at Fain Park this morning. The third-seeded Lady Eagles drew ninety-seeded Blue Mountain in elimination play today, but were unable to overcome the Toppers' decisive two-run sixth inning delivery and fell 3-1 in the season finale.

A pair of doubles in the second inning gave Blue Mountain a 1-0 lead, but Faulkner evened things up in the bottom of the same on an Emily Byrd RBI single to shallow right field.

The hot-hitting Toppers climbed back in control with a four-hit, two-run sixth, however, leaving the Lady Eagles with six outs to turn things around.

Faulkner couldn't muster the same late-game rally it had against Martin Methodist the day before and the season came to an abrupt close in the elimination bracket.

Emma Cornell (5-9) gave up 10 hits and three earned runs while tallying a pair of strikeouts in the loss.

Hayden Strickland allowed two hits in the final two innings of play.

Byrd, Amanda Seales, Hannahlee Harris and Makenzie Anthony each had a hit and Byrd secured the lone RBI.

Holli Brooks scored the run.

"Y'all have been a fun group," head coach Hal Wynn told his team after the game, "there's no doubt about that."

Faulkner closed the season at 21-23. The Lady Eagles will return to the diamond next spring.