MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Top-ranked and seeded Faulkner (51-7) scored in all but the second and fifth innings en route to a 20-0 blasting of fourth-seeded Talladega (28-23) here in Game 3 of the Montgomery Bracket in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round at Harrison Field this evening.

After pinning two runs on the board thanks to methodical baseball in the first inning, Reese Cooley sparked a third frame slugfest with a two-run blast in the third.

Austin Paschke immediately followed with a triple off the wall at centerfield and scored moments later thanks to a Jacob Freeland double to hard right.

The Eagles continued to electrify the scoreboard throughout regulation with a staggering 23 hits while the pitching staff limited the Tornadoes to just two.

Freeland was a monster at the plate going 4-for-6 with three doubles and six RBIs.

Te'kwaan Whyte was 3-for-4 and Ryan Rosa was 2-for-3 and both players scored.

Wes Roberson and Andrew Carter were both 2-for-2 and Roberson scored three times and knocked in two runs.

T.J. Riles hit .500 and scored twice.

Tyler Thornton (7-0) was stellar from the mound tossing a one-hitter over six innings while striking out eight batters in the shutout.

Alex DuBord, Isaac Guerrero and Caleb DeRouen each pitched an inning down the stretch, respectively.

Wilkin Louis (2-2) suffered the loss for Talladega after surrendering seven earned runs on eight hits spanning the first three innings of play.

Faulkner advances to take on Indiana Tech at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, while Talladega will face the winner of the Webber International and LSU-Alexandria matchup at 5 p.m.