PULASKI, Tenn. - Top-ranked Faulkner (26-3, 9-0 SSAC) concluded its three-game sweep of Martin Methodist (8-16-1, 1-5 SSAC) with an 8-3 decision in today's Southern States Athletic Conference opener before hammering the door shut with a 18-0 seven-inning pummeling that featured no home runs in the final showdown.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead on a passed ball in the first inning of Game 1, but the RedHawks tied the contest on a fielder's choice that same inning.

Faulkner then moved into a two-run advantaged courtesy of a Michael Darr twin RBI double in the second.

Ryan Rosa's two-run homer in the third inning offered the visitors some early-game firepower before John Price responded to a two-run Martin Methodist sixth inning with a solo bomb of his own in the seventh.

Tyler Tungate (4-0) surrendered two earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters over 5 1/3 innings in the opening win.

Austin Moreland also tallied three strikeouts and allowed one hit in the save.

While Faulkner's offensive pace proved slow and steady in the opener, it was anything but that in the nightcap. The Eagles scored in all but the fourth and sixth innings, but it was the 11-run third that anchored the blowout.

Olivier Basabe's two-RBI double in the first inning proved contagious as the Eagles followed with four more doubles in the explosive third inning.

The only ball to leave the park was Basabe's ground rule double in right field. Faulkner scored 11 runs on eight hits, three errors and a pair of walks.

The visitors tallied eight doubles in Game 2.

Equally impressive was Faulkner's defense, which was spearheaded by Israel Fuentes (5-0) who gave up three hits while striking out five batters in four innings of work.

Jose Agosto allowed a single hit while striking out a batter in the ensuing two innings before Preston Szuch closed things out with a no-hit, two-strikeout seventh inning from the mound.

In a series that saw a tremendous amount of offensive production, standout performers included Rosa who went 3-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs. 

Darr was 3-for-6 on the day with three RBIs and a run.

Tra'mayne Holmes was electric in Game 2 going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs while Reid Long was 2-for-2 and scored twice.

Basabe and Wes Roberson were both 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and runs each in the nightcap while T.J. Condon batted the same in the opener and scored in the second event.

Deivy Palmeiro hit .500 and knocked in three runs and scored in the final contest.

Faulkner will next host Stillman College in doubleheader action at 4 p.m. on Monday.