Faulkner split its games on day two of the Faulkner Invitational Saturday despite a pair of strong pitching performances. 

FAULKNER 4, CUMBERLANDS 1

The Lady Eagles found themselves in a pitching duel in the fifth inning of Saturday's opener until they scratched out a three-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kendall Bennett walked to open the inning and moved up on an Ashton Fielding (JR/Rockford, Ala.) single before Maggie Tipton (JR/Selma, Ala.) drew a walk to load the bases. Abby Tindol (FR/Billingsley, Ala.) later singled to drive in Bennett for the 1-0 lead. Caity Jo Lee (SO/Wetumpka, Ala.) later doubled to deep left, plating Tipton and Tindol for the 3-0 advantage. 

The Patriots got one run back in the sixth when Maddie Sickau singled and later scored on an error. 

Faulkner added one more to the board in the home half of the sixth when Shelbie Burbage (SO/Prattville, Ala.) came on as a pinch runner after an Abbigail Barron (JR/Panama City, Fla.) single, later scoring on a bases-loaded walk to Tipton. 

That was more than enough for Caitlin Perry (SR/Montgomery, Ala.) (2-0), who struck out five batters and scattered seven hits while issuing no walks and allowing no earned runs.  

TRUETT-MCCONNELL 1, FAULKNER 0 

Bailey Whitfield (FR/Alabaster, Ala.) proved tough in the nightcap, scattering five hits and issuing no walks while allowing one earned run in a complete game effort. Faulkner nearly got her off the hook for the loss in the bottom of the seventh when Bennett and Tipton singled, giving the Lady Eagles two on board with two outs. Faulkner failed to put the ball in the play on the final out of the game, falling 1-0 to the nation's No. 20 team. Faulkner's other hits in the game came from Barron and Burbage. 

Faulkner (2-2) returns to action March 1 at the Gulf Shores Invitational. That weekend will include games against Spring Hill College, Ave Maria, Rio Grande, Southeastern and Culver Stockton. 

The Lady Eagles will play at home again March 15 against William Carey in a conference doubleheader.