Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner got three innings in quickly and then had to wait out a storm system for more than three hours before finishing off a 13-3 series-opening victory over Stillman Friday. 

The Eagles got a solo homer from Shawn Ross in the first inning to go up 1-0. That might've been enough if Antonio Frias had been able to continue as the senior southpaw efficiently cut through the Stillman over the first three innings, striking out three while allowing a hit and a walk. 

Faulkner added to its lead in the third as Jonathan Villa's grounder plated Sam Anthony before Arauz singled down the left field line to score Ross. Arauz's swing proved the final strike of the game for a while as lightning flashed in the sky and forced a stoppage that pushed Frias out of the game. 

When play resumed, Ben Vowell struck a lightning bolt of his own with a two-run blast at the left field scoreboard to get Stillman back in the game. The contest remained a one-run affair until the bottom of the sixth when Faulkner scored once. The Eagles then scored two in the seventh and six in the eighth to end the game. 

Villa had three hits and four RBIs in the game. John Michael Mathews finished with two hits and three RBIs. Faulkner tallied 16 hits in the contest, more than enough to back the bullpen effort topped by the four and a third innings logged by Ford Hilyer (1-0).

Faulkner (21-4, 7-3 SSAC) returns to action Sunday when it resumes the series with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m.