HATTIESBURG, Ala. – Faulkner split a doubleheader with William Carey Saturday, losing its season-opening SSAC series in the process.

FAULKNER 5, WILLIAM CAREY 1

In game one of the day, Gabriel Rosado singled in the bottom half of the first and scored on R.J. Stinson's base hit to stake the Crusaders to a 1-0 lead. That advantage remained until the top of the seventh. Sam Anthony (SR/Columbus, Ga.) stroked a leadoff double and took advantage of a pair of wild pitches to tie the game. Trystin Raikes (SR/Ottawa, Ill.) reached on a catcher's interference and gave way to pinch runner DeJhard Kimbrough (SR/Atlanta, Ga.). Jonathan Villa (SR/Ensenada, Mexico) followed with a double to plate Kimbrough for the 2-1 lead.

Isaac Phillips (JR/Powder Springs, Ga.) followed with a single to drive in Tommy Reyes-Cruz (JR/Quebec, British Columbia) for the 3-1 advantage. Phillips scored on a John Michael Mathews (SR/Birmingham, Ala.) walk before Anthony drew a base on balls to force home Hagen Holmstead (SR/Salt Lake City, Utah).

Faulkner finished the win in the bottom of the seventh with a perfect inning by Heath Olive (SR/Birmingham, Ala.), who fanned two batters in the eight-pitch frame.

WILLIAM CAREY 5, FAULKNER 1

The Crusaders jumped on top early in the final game of the series, scoring three runs in the second and two more in the third for a 5-0 lead. Faulkner got on the board in the seventh when Raikes reached on an error and scored on Eriq White (SR/Snellville, Ga.)'s single set the final score at 5-1.

Faulkner (15-4, 1-2 SSAC) is set to return to action Tuesday when it hosts Talladega in a doubleheader before welcoming Blue Mountain to town Friday.