Weather delayed the series by two days, but Faulkner finally got its SSAC season underway Sunday in a doubleheader against Martin Methodist. The Lady Eagles dropped the opener to the hosting Red Hawks before rallying for a win in game two of the series.

MARTIN METHODIST 3, FAULKNER 1

The opener was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Martin rallied for three of its hits and all of its runs in a 3-1 victory. Ombreyah Daly and Taylor Mitchell each had a one-out single before Sabrina Gilliam hit the first pitch she saw out of the park for a 3-0 lead.

Ashton Fielding (JR/Rockford, Ala.) erased the shutout when she hit the first pitch of the seventh inning out for a solo homer, narrowing the deficit to 3-1. Maggie Tipton (JR/Selma, Ala.) followed with a single before a sacrifice bunt from Dakota Berry (JR/Milton, Fla.) moved her into scoring position. Caity Jo Lee (SO/Wetumpka, Ala.) later drew a walk to put the tying runs on base before Kaylee Davis recorded her fifth strikeout to end the game.

Davis picked up the win, scattering six hits in a complete game effort. Caitlin Perry (SR/Montgomery, Ala.) struck out five batters over six innings of work while allowing six hits.

FAULKNER 6, MARTIN METHODIST 4

Faulkner rallied for all of its runs in the second and third innings before holding off Martin Methodist for the 6-4 win in game two of the series.

Sabrina Gilliam hit a leadoff homer for Martin in the bottom of the first. Faulkner did not stay down long. Kendall Bennett (JR/Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.) took a hit-by-pitch to open the second for Faulkner before Fielding singled to left. With two away in the inning, Abby Tindol (FR/Billingsley, Ala.) singled to lead the bases. Shelbie Burbage (SO/Prattville, Ala.) reached on an error that allowed Bennett and Fielding to score, putting Faulkner up 2-1. Another error allowed Tindol and Burbage to score for the 4-1 lead.

The Lady Eagles added to the advantage in the third when Tipton followed a Fielding single with a two-run shot for the 6-1 lead.

Hannah Ward singled in Raegan Hannah and Ward in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 6-3. Martin surged closer in the seventh inning when Hannah Hayes stroked a leadoff double ahead of a Breanna Owens single. Raegan Hannah followed with a single to left to plate Hayes and cut the deficit to 6-4. Despite a Sabrina Gilliam single later in the inning, Faulkner managed to strand the tying runners to end the game.

Faulkner (6-5, 1-1 SSAC) is set to continue the series with a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Monday.