MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner (15-20, 6-8 SSAC) produced just three hits in this afternoon's Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader opener against Blue Mountain (15-15, 5-9) and ultimately fell 5-0, but an offensive surge anchored by Dakota Berry in Game 2 helped usher in the series split with a 7-4 victory.

The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning of Game 1 on an RBI single before doing much more of the same in the four-run seventh inning to book the shutout.

Hayden Strickland Oates (2-6) tallied three strikeouts and allowed a pair of earned runs on six hits scattered over as many innings in the loss.

Caitlin Perry tossed the seventh inning and gave up a lone hit and had a strikeout.

A run on a passed ball in the first inning of the second contest gave the Toppers and early cushion, but Faulkner slipped into its first lead of the afternoon in the second with a run of a wild throw and an ensuing Hannahlee Harris single.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as Blue Mountain tied the game on a stolen base at home plate while a rundown unfolded between first and second base in the third. The visitors then inched back in front on an RBI single to shallow right field before the inning expired.

The Lady Eagles answered quickly in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with no outs and setting the stage for things to come.

A brief stalemate occurred after Faulkner scored on a fielder's choice before Berry put the home team into a permanent lead with a two-RBI single to center.

The Toppers mustered one more run in the fifth inning, but Berry delivered a repeat performance in the bottom of the same frame, this time with a triple to right field.

Berry was 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the second game and was the only Lady Eagle with multiple hits in a single event.

Abbigail Barron had two hits in the series and accounted for two runs and an RBI.

Emma Cornell (4-5) gave up four earned runs on eight hits and had two strikeouts over five innings in the win.

Perry also closed the second game and allowed one hit and secured two strikeouts in the final two innings from the circle.

Faulkner will next host Point University in doubleheader action beginning Wednesday at 2 p.m.