MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner rode the arm of Antonio Frias (SR/Panama City, Panama) to a 12-2 series-opening win over SSAC foe Blue Mountain Friday night.

Faulkner hung four runs on the board in the home half of the second inning and scarcely looked back en route to the eight-inning run rule victory. Mario Moralez Jr. (JR/Houston, Texas) opened the frame with a single to left ahead of a John Michael Mathews (SR/Birmingham, Ala.) walk. That duo scored on a Jonathan Villa (SR/Ensenada, Mexico) double. Tommy Reyes-Cruz (JR/Quebec, British Columbia) singled and later scored alongside Villa's courtesy runner DeJhard Kimbrough (SR/Atlanta, Ga.) on a Shawn Ross (JR/Fajada, Puerto Rico) double.

After Blue Mountain got on the board in the third inning, Faulkner struck again in the fourth. Justin Lara (SR/Coconut Creek, Fla.) stroked a one-out triple to right before scoring on a Ross single. Villa walked and gave way to Kimbrough who scored on a Sam Anthony (SR/Columbus, Ga.) grounder for the 6-1 lead.

After the Toppers' Will Garriga singled in Drake Wallace in the top of the fifth, the Eagles responded again in the bottom half. Reyes-Cruz reached on a hit-by-pitch and Lara singled. The duo then scored on an error for the 8-2 advantage.

Villa notched a two-out single in the seventh, allowing Kimbrough to later score on a bases-loaded walk to Ross.to make it 9-2. Faulkner ended the game via the run rule in the eighth when it hung a three spot on the board. Mike Battle (SR/Birmingham, Ala.) took a hit-by-pitch ahead of a Moralez walk. Reyes-Cruz doubled that tandem home to make it 11-2. Reyes-Cruz then scored on a Villa grounder to end the game.

The offense was plenty in support of Faulkner's senior ace, Frias. He struck out nine batters over six innings while scattering five hits and two walks. Staton Todd (SR/Clinton, Miss.) finished it out with three strikeouts over two scoreless frames.