BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Second-seeded Faulkner (48-14) secured its third win of the day and its second consecutive victory over top-seeded Campbellsville (47-10) with a 2-1 decision here in the championship game of Bracket No. 2 in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round at Michael O. Buchanon Park this evening. With it, the team claimed its first-ever berth in the NAIA World Series set to begin May 25 in Clermont, Florida.

The Lady Eagles opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Rio Grande in eight innings yesterday before falling to Campbellsville 4-2 last night.

No. 17 Faulkner fended off a talented Madonna team 6-5 in nine innings this afternoon before entering a pair of contests against the undefeated Tigers. The Lady Eagles iced fourth-ranked Campbellsville 2-0 forcing this evening's if-necessary game.

Mia Aldridge's RBI triple gave the Tigers a 1-0 advantage in the fourth inning, but Maggie Tipton went one better with a two-RBI triple in the subsequent at-bat catapulting the Lady Eagles into a one-run lead and eventual win.

"The girls play fantastically and Caitlin Perry was phenomenal," said head coach Hal Wynn after the win. "We didn't hit the ball as well as we'd have liked in this tournament, but we came up big when we needed to and they got the job done. We're incredibly excited right now because we've never experienced anything like this. This is big for our program and we are looking forward to what awaits in Florida."

Perry (23-5) earned her third victory of the day with a two-hit effort over four innings. The junior right-hander tossed 314 pitches today while leading Faulkner through the elimination bracket and into the history books.

Emma Cornell took over in the circle for the final three frames and held the Tigers to a single hit while striking out a batter.

Shelby Brown was 2-for-3 and scored while Tipton and Nicole Morrison each tallied a hit.