GULF SHORES, Ala. - Faulkner bats backed a solid start from Nicole Morrison (SO/Hueytown, Ala.) in a 5-0 win Saturday against Culver-Stockton before suffering an 11-1 defeat to Ave Maria in the Gulf Shores Invitational.

Faulkner 5, Culver-Stockton (Mo.) 0

Morrison's first collegiate start in the circle resulted in the first shutout of the season. The right-handed pitcher struckout four while allowing just three hits, providing plenty of cushion for her teammates five runs on nine hits. 

Faulkner opened the scoring in the second and added a pair of runs in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Lady Eagles added two more in the sixth to finalize the scoring. Kendall Bennett (SR/Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Taylor Parker (SR/Corner, Ala.) and Dakota Berry (SR/Milton, Fla.) each had multiple hits. Brianna Cagle (JR/Decatur, Ala.) drove in two runs. 

Ave Maria (Fla.) 10, Faulkner 1 (Five Innings)

The top two batters in the lineup, Burbage and Parker, went a combined 4-for-5 and provided the only offense in the run-rule defeat. Ave Maria lit the scoreboard once in the first inning before exploding for five and four in the second and third innings, respectively. Four Gyrenes recorded multiple RBIs, paced by Angela Cataldo's four. 

Whitfield suffered the loss, giving up eight earned over 2 2/3 innings. Katelynn Inness (FR/Niceville, Fla.) settled the Gyrene attack back down over the final 1 1/3 innings facing the minimum.