TALLADEGA, Ala. - A sloppy defensive fourth inning by Faulkner ultimately anchored the 4-3 (7) win for Talladega in Game 1 of this afternoon's doubleheader, but the second-ranked Eagles scored in every inning of the followup event to earn the split with a 14-8 (7) victory.

An Austin Pashke two-run homer in the third inning and a Deivy Palmeiro solo bomb in the fourth accounted for all of Faulkner's runs in the opener. A pair of costly errors in the bottom of the fourth sent the scoring pendulum in the Tornadoes' favor, however, and eventually ushered in the Eagles' second one-run loss of the season.

Kolby Green (1-1) suffered that fate despite allowing just one earned run on six hits and tallying four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of work from the mound.

Dustin Hagy tossed the last out of the fourth inning and a full fifth and gave up two hits before Reid Long closed things out with a one-hit seventh.

Kyle Chavez was masterful for Talladega keeping the high octane Eagle offense off balance. The senior pitcher gave up just four hits and booked 12 strikeouts in the win.

Palmeiro was the only player to fluster Chavez more than once. The senior outfielder went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and the final RBI.

The second contest proved a different matter altogether, however, as Faulkner retaliated with 17 hits across four Tornado pitchers.

Long was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 with a pair of runs and an RBI while Ryan Rosa went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and runs. 

T.J. Condon and John Price each had two hits, two RBIs and a run.

Tyler Tungate (2-0) earned the win while allowing just two hits and striking out four batters in five shutout innings of work in Game 2. 

Things fractured defensively after Tungate's departure, however.

Tanner Disibio took control of the mound in the fifth inning and allowed three earned runs on four hits and Jose Agosto gave up five earned runs on four hits in the seventh.

Faulkner opens Southern States Athletic Conference play against Blue Mountain (Miss.) at Harrison Field this weekend. The two teams will battle in a nine-inning game at 6 p.m. on Friday before entering doubleheader action 1 p.m. on Saturday.