Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 4 DECATUR, Ala. – Faulkner's impressive run through the SSAC Softball Championship finished short Saturday as the Lady Eagles fell to William Carey 5-3 in the final round. Faulkner earned its way to the round with a 1-0 victory over Mobile, marking its third 1-0 win of the tournament.

FAULKNER 1, MOBILE 0 (Friday)

Katelynn Inness and Brinkley Goff pitched dueling gems Friday as the game remained scoreless through the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, freshman catcher Jordan Boyd ripped a two-out triple to left to create a threat for Faulkner. Brianna Cagle followed with a single up the middle to put Faulkner up 1-0.

Inness quickly found herself in a spot in the home half of the seventh as she beaned Kaitlyn Spangler to start the inning. A Destinee Cole sacrifice bunt moved Spangler to second before a grounder advanced her to third. Maddie Robertson coaxed a walk to put the go-ahead run at first base. Inness then locked in and induced an Allison Vincent grounder to second to end the game.

Inness (7-3) recorded the complete game shutout while allowing just two hits and four walks and fanning six.

WILLIAM CAREY 3, FAULKNER 0 (Friday)

With a trip to the final round on the line, William Carey got to Meagan Schwieterman in the second and third innings to provide plenty of run support for staff ace Haley Nations. Maranda Busby hit the first pitch of the second inning over the left field fence to put the Crusaders up 1-0. Susie West later deposited an 0-1 offering for a two-run shot in the third to cap the scoring.

Schwieterman (5-6) allowed eight hits over six innings of work while striking out four and walking one.

FAULKNER 1, MOBILE 0 (Saturday)

Faulkner turned the ball back over to Inness (8-3) with the season on the line against Mobile Saturday. She responded by delivering eight shutout innings with three hits and four walks. Emily Butts matched Inness for seven innings, holding the Lady Eagles off the board while working out of jams. Faulkner broke through in the top of the eighth. Nicole Morrison singled to left-center with two out in the inning. Caity Jo Lee followed suit with a single of her own before Boyd singled past first to plate Morrison. Inness then worked around a walk in the home half of the eighth to slam the door.

WILLIAM CAREY 5, FAULKNER 3 (Saturday)

Faulkner struck first against the Crusaders Saturday, needing two wins over William Carey to take the SSAC championship. The Lady Eagles got a leadoff single from Morrison in the top of the second. Madison McKee later drove her home with a two-out single to right-center. Cagle followed with a single of her own to put two aboard for the top of the order. Shelbie Burbage then ripped a triple to left, plating two and leaving Faulkner up 3-0.

The score stayed there until the bottom of the fourth when Mary Grace Turner launched a payoff pitch over the left field fence to get the Crusaders on the board. With two away in the home half of the fifth, Inness ran into trouble. Brooke Tanner scored on a Kristen Sexton double to cut the Faulkner lead to 3-2. Back-to-back walks then loaded the bases for Susie Lebert who coaxed a walk of her own to plate Sexton and tie the game. A Busby single scored Camryn Flanagan to put William Carey up. Another walk to Megan Sexton pushed Dee Dee West across and left Faulkner down 5-3.

Nations then slammed the door for William Carey, retiring the next six Faulkner batters to end the game.
Inness (8-4) struck out three over four and two-thirds innings while being charged with all five runs.

The tournament leaves Faulkner at 31-16 n the season.