MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner had every opportunity to walk out of Saturday with a doubleheader sweep but had to settle for a split with Martin Methodist after late heroics prompted a game two win.

MARTIN METHODIST 6, FAULKNER 4

The Lady Red Hawks stole game one out of the clutches of defeat in the top of the seventh when Raegan Hannah sent a three-run shot over the left field fence for the 6-4 lead. Faulkner went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to ice the game.

Martin took the lead in the first inning when Shayla Youngblood singled and later scored the opening run of the contest. Shelbie Burbage (JR/Prattville, Ala.) doubled in Dakota Berry (SR/Milton, Fla.) in the third to tie the game. Burbage later scored on an error to put Faulkner on top.

The Lady Eagles added to that in the fourth when Ashton Fielding (SR/Rockford, Ala.) hit a leadoff single before Maggie Tipton (SR/Selma, Ala.) blasted a two-run shot to center.

Martin began chipping away at the deficit in the fifth when Youngblood singled with one out and later scored on a Hannah base hit. Chloe Clavon drew a leadoff walk in the sixth before stealing both second and third, which put her in position to score on Courtney McFarlen's single.

FAULKNER 3, MARTIN METHODIST 2

Faulkner found late inning magic of its own in the second game of the day as a walk-off fly ball to right field resulted in the Lady Eagles' first win of the season.

Faulkner won the game in the bottom of the eighth on a sequence that started with a Caity Jo Lee (JR/Wetumpka, Ala.) leadoff single. Lee moved up on a fielder's choice from Maggie Tipton and a sacrifice bunt by Madison McKee (SO/Wetumpka, Ala.). Tara Ammons (JR/Prattville, Ala.) then launched a fly ball to right field that led to a fielding error and plated Lee for the win.

Kirsten Littrell gave Martin the lead in the top of the second inning when she reached on a fielder's choice and scored on an error. Faulkner tied the game in the fifth when Lee smacked a two-run homer to center after Fielding had been hit by a pitch. The lead proved short lived as Hannah hit a solo homer in the sixth to tie the game.

Katelynn Inness (FR/Niceville, Fla.) battled for the win, going eight innings while allowing two earned runs and striking out six.

Faulkner (1-5, 0-4 SSAC) returns to action Friday when it travels to Gulf Shores for the Gulf Coast Invitational. Faulkner will take on No. 13 Campbellsville, No. 21 LSUA, Culver-Stockton, Ave Maria, Central Methodist and Grace College.