MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The seventh-ranked Eagles flexed their offensive and pitching muscles in an opening day doubleheader sweep over Talladega Sunday afternoon 13-3 and 3-1 at Harrison Field. 

Faulkner 13, Talladega 3

An eight-run bottom of the fifth inning powered by five hits and four Talladega errors placed the season opener out of reach. 

Tyler Paulsen sparked the rally with a double into right, marking his first hit after an injury sustained in the 2019 SSAC Tournament kept him out of the COVID-shortened 2020. Alex Arauz drew a bases-loaded two-out walk before Justin Lara scored on an error by pitcher Payton Graben. Tommy Reyes-Cruz cleared the bases with a two RBI single to right. Flipping over the lineup, Paulsen's second hit of the frame drove in Reyes-Cruz. Tyberius Correa completed the rally, driving in two more with a left-field line double.

July Sosa's Faulkner debut impressed, striking out six over five innings allowing just one run. The Bronx, N.Y. native threw 63 pitches and allowed four hits in an efficient outing. Ford Hilyer fanned three over two, allowing two runs in relief. 

Reyes-Cruz ended the game 3-for-4 with five RBIs to pace the Eagle attack. Paulsen and Correa each finished with multiple hits in the game as well.

Faulkner 3, Talladega 1

Harrison Field turned into Weehawken as a pitcher's duel broke out in game two. Antonio Frias, once again proved electric, striking out 10 over five innings of work. His counterpart, Oracia De Leon matched him shot for shot, fanning 12 Eagles in a 103-pitch complete game.

Shawn Ross drew first blood with a two-run moonshot over the centerfield fence following a Sam Anthony single in the bottom of the fourth. Adriel Acevedo capitalized on an error and an Arnold Dominguez two-out double to pull a run back, but Frias struck out Kurston Gray to end the inning and hold on to the lead. 

J.C. Toro's first Faulkner pitch was hit into left field by Talladega left fielder Isaiah Lewis before a Jose Santiago sacrifice bunt advanced him to second. Jeffry Roldan's groundout brought the Tornado leadoff man to third. With the tying run 90 feet away, catcher Jonathan Villa conferenced with his pitcher to figure out the attack. Four times, Toro threw breaking balls low and outside and got Wander Arias to chase three of them, ending the threat. Toro would eventually close the door and earn the save.

Andres Puello dropped an Anthony fly ball to start the sixth. The Eagle center fielder advanced on a Ross walk and a steal to set the stage for Reyes-Cruz's sacrifice fly, padding the lead. 

Faulkner travels to Georgia to play in the NAIA Southeast Rumble hosted by Reinhardt and Georgia Gwinnett Thursday, Friday and Saturday.