MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner got 16 and two-thirds innings of work from its starting pitchers Friday night in a doubleheader sweep of SSAC rival Mobile. The staff stabilizing efforts of hurlers Antonio Frias and J.C. Toro broke a tie in the SSAC standings and left Faulkner in position to play for the sweep Saturday.

FAULKNER 8, MOBILE 4

Frias found his groove early and often in the series opener, working a perfect four innings before Mobile get off the deck. Christian Waltman roped a leadoff double to right-center to break up Frias's perfect game. A walk to Blake Roberts, a pair of Eagle errors, a balk and a fielder's choice turned the inning sour Frias and Mobile's rally put the Rams up 3-1.

Faulkner spent almost no time working from underneath as it rallied for five runs in the home half of the fifth. Justin Lara's leadoff single opened the bounce-back effort before the speedy right fielder stole second. Sam Anthony walked and later stole second before a Shawn Ross hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Alex Arauz then singled through the right side to score Lara, cutting it to 3-2. Isaac Phillips hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Anthony and tie the game. John Michael Mathews followed with a double to left-center, plating Ross and Arauz to put Faulkner 5-3. Tommy Reyes-Cruz followed with a single to right to drive in Mathews and push the lead to 6-3.

The Eagles added two more runs in the sixth as Jonathan Villa hit a two-out triple before giving way to pinch runner Isaiah Brooks. Ross singled through the hole at short to plate Brooks. Phillips later doubled in Ben Hargis for the 8-3 lead.

Mobile added a run in the top of the seventh before Frias induced a grounder to end the game. Frias (7-0) struck out seven batters in a complete game effort while scattering three hits and allowing one earned run.

FAULKNER 7, MOBILE 1

Toro told the tale of the nightcap, carving through the Mobile lineup while facing 29 batters over eight and two-thirds innings of work. Toro (5-1) struck out 11 batters while allowing only three hits, a walk and an unearned run in the effort.

His lone jam came in the top of the fourth when Tucker Musgrove's two-out double preceded a hit-by-pitch against Lex Singleton. Musgrove swiped third and scored on an errant throw. Toro struck out the next batter to strand Singleton at second.

Faulkner got most of its early offensive work done via the longball. Facing impressive Mobile ace Bailey Sellers, Villa got his team onto the board in the bottom of the first when he deposited a 2-0 pitch over the right field fence for a solo shot. Mathews struck in the bottom of the second after a pop foul that seemed destined to be an out dropped harmlessly to the grass, the Faulkner second baseman launched a 3-2 offering over the center field fence to move the lead to 2-0. Faulkner added another run later in the innings when Reyes-Cruz singled ahead of a Justice Lucas double. Lara's sacrifice fly plated Reyes-Cruz for the 3-0 lead. Villa then opened the third with a homer to left for the 4-0 advantage.

Faulkner added a run in the sixth when Lara singled in Lucas. The Eagles plated two more in the eighth as Lara's single drove in Brooks before Ross's sacrifice fly knocked in Lucas.

Faulkner (26-5, 11-3 SSAC) is set to wrap the series with Mobile Saturday at 2 p.m.