MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Faulkner scored 22 runs in a Saturday doubleheader to sweep Brewton-Parker and move to 5-1 in SSAC play.
FAULKNER 11, BREWTON-PARKER 2
The Eagles took game one of the doubleheader largely on the strength of another strong start from reigning NAIA Pitcher of the Week
Antonio Frias. The senior southpaw worked six and a third shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10 batters.
Faulkner opened the scoring in the top of the first when
Shawn Ross parked a 1-0 offering over the left field fence for a two-out solo homer. The Eagles mounted a three-run rally in the second inning.
Isaac Phillips singled to open the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by
John Michael Mathews to push the lead to 2-0.
Tommy Reyes-Cruz singled with nobody out and later scored on
Jonathan Villa's single for the 3-0 lead.
Sam Anthony walked and later scored on a
Bo Seccombe bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to leave Faulkner up 4-0.
The Eagles struck again in the third as Mathews hit a 1-1 offering over the fence in left-center for a three-run blast to move the lead to 7-0. Reyes-Cruz drove in
Isaiah Brooks with a grounder in the fourth before Anthony's sacrifice fly plated
Justin Lara to make it 9-0. Faulkner added two more runs in the top of the seventh when
Tyler Paulsen hit a two-run shot that also drove in
Aaron Hammer.
Brewton-Parker got its two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a Zachary Wilson homer and a Jackson Smith single.
Frias (5-0) got the win and lowered his season ERA to 2.91. He also increased his already existing program record for career strikeouts to 218.
FAULKNER 11, BREWTON-PARKER 5
The Eagle bats faced off against one of the best pitchers in the SSAC in the final game of the series when Brewton-Parker freshman Benjamin Harris took the hill. Eduardo Castillo hit a two-run shot in the home half of the first to stake Harris to an early lead and the freshman made the score stand up until the top of the third.
Justice Lucas doubled to open the inning and Villa hit a two-run shot to tie the game. It remained 2-2 until an Anthony homer in the sixth put Faulkner up 3-2. The Eagles then erupted for five runs in the eighth.
Alex Arauz doubled in Villa and Anthony before Phillips hit a three-run shot to move the lead to 8-2.
After the Barons scored three in the home half of the eighth to make a game of it again, Faulkner got all three runs back in the ninth. Anthony singled in Villa before Ross hit a two-run shot.
J.C. Toro (3-1) struck out eight over seven and two-thirds innings of work for the win.
Stafford Quinnelly entered with an 8-5 lead and runners aboard in the eighth, working a scoreless inning and a third for his third save of the season.
Faulkner (15-2, 5-1 SSAC) returns to play Wednesday when it travels to Point before heading to Loyola Friday.
