MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Top-ranked and seeded Faulkner (53-7) outlasted third-seeded Indiana Tech (44-21) 10-7 in a 13-inning thriller tonight in the Montgomery Bracket championship here at Harrison Field thanks to a walk-off three-run homer from Gage West. With the win the Eagles earned a spot in the 2018 Avista-NAIA World Series hosted by Lewis-Clarke State in Lewiston, Idaho, beginning next week. The appearance will mark the team's sixth straight at the national stage.

The Warriors entered the contest coming immediately off a 2-1 11-inning victory over second-seeded Webber International in the elimination bracket by way of a walk-off single.

Eleven of the combined 17 runs scored in the championship game were tallied via the long ball.

Faulkner took a commanding 4-0 lead in the first inning thanks in large part to a there-run homer from Austin Paschke.

Rusber Estrada extended Faulkner's advantage to 6-4 with a solo shot in the fourth frame, but Glen McClain countered with a three-run homer of his own in the sixth inning giving the Warriors a one-run edge.

Reese Cooley then went yard in the eighth, forcing the contest into a deadlock while West jettisoned the final ball out of the park in extended play.

Estrada was 3-for-4 on the night and T.J. Riles went 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run.

West and Te'kwaan Whyte were both 2-for-6.

Tighe Koehring hit .500 and scored twice while knocking in a run for Tech and McClain and Reece Olden were both 2-for-6.

Alex Carrillo held the mound for the opening 2 2/3 innings for Faulkner and surrendered four earned runs on five hits while striking out two batters.

Brandon Suttles saw the next three innings of action where he fanned five batters while giving up three earned runs on as many hits.

The victory went to Braden Olive (4-0) in 7 1/3 innings of relief. The senior left-hander had three strikeouts and allowed just two hits.

Joe Wolf gave up six earned runs on nine hits over five innings in the start for the Warriors.

R.J. Gaines suffered the loss in the decisive inning after surrendering an earned run on two hits.

Faulkner will now await seeding in the Avista-NAIA World Series set to begin on May 25.