MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Second-ranked Auburn Montgomery fended off Faulkner 1-0 in Game 1 of this afternoon's Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader at the AUM softball complex before securing the sweep with a 4-1 decision in the nightcap.

The Warhawks (34-3/10-2 SSAC) capitalized on a walk and hit batter before dishing up a pair of sacrifice efforts to inch the team into a 1-0 lead and eventual win in the hitless sixth inning of the opener.

The Lady Eagles moved a pair of runners into scoring position in the fourth inning and loaded the bases in the fifth, but were unable to ignite the scoreboard.

AUM erupted early in the second event scoring all four of its runs in the first two innings. 

An Amy Persinger RBI double to shallow right field gave the Warhawks a 1-0 advantage in the first inning, but it was Katie Brinkman's three-run homer to left-center field in the second that ultimately proved the difference-maker in the ball game.

After 26 scoreless innings spanning nearly two series, Faulkner's Holli Brooks broke the scoring silence with an RBI double to center field in the sixth. 

Faulkner out-hit AUM 10 to six on the day, but stranded 14 runners compared to AUM's five.

Defensively, Faulkner was sound and it was lights-out pitching by left-hander Emma Cornell (6-3) that kept one of the nation's most potent offenses off the bases. The sophomore gave up just a single hit and earned run in the opening loss while tallying six strikeouts. 

She resumed control of the circle in the second inning of the night cap as well, and her numbers were just as impressive. Cornell again allowed just a single hit while striking out three more batters in 4 1/3 innings of work. She was also 1-for-1 at the plate with a double in the second event.

Caitlin Perry (6-6) tossed the first 1 2/3 innings of Game 2 and gave up four hits and as many earned runs in the loss.

Katie Goodson went 2-for-3 in the opener and Sophie Slemp and Brooks each had a hit in each game and Brooks logged the RBI.

Faulkner dropped to 15-15 overall and 3-7 in the league. The Lady Eagles return to Wynn Field on Friday where they will host Brewton-Parker in a crucial SSAC series. The doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m.