Faulkner recorded two hits over its final 27 batters of the game but still managed to beat William Carey 5-4 Friday to open SSAC play. 

The Eagles scratched out the eventual game winner in the bottom of the sixth when John Michael Matthews (JR/Birmingham, Ala.) walked and later scored on a Jacob Freeland (SR/Cape Coral, Fla.) groundball. 

William Carey opened the scoring in the top of the first when Kyle Bayles singled before scoring on a Jonathan Turner double. 

Faulkner rallied for a three spot in the bottom of the first Max Guzman (JR/Miami, Fla.) doubled in Te'kwaan Whyte (SR/Stone Mountain, Ga.) and Freeland. Myron Mebane (SR/Tallahassee, Fla.) then singled in Guzman for the 3-1 lead. The Eagles stretched it to 4-1 in the second when Whyte doubled and scored on an error. 

The Crusaders erased that lead in the top of the fourth when Pablo Torres doubled in Turner, Bryson Medious and Blake Freeman to tie the game. 

Alejandro Carillo entered the game in the top of the fourth and proved a stabilizing force for the Eagles. He allowed two hits and issued one walk over five and a third innings of work while striking out five. 

Faulkner (13-4, 1-0 SSAC) hosts William Carey in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.