MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner split a season-opening doubleheader with Clarke Saturday, taking game one in a walk-off win while dropping game two.
FAULKNER 6, CLARKE 5
Faulkner pulled off a 6-5 victory in thrilling walk-off fashion in game one of the series.
Sammy De La Cruz ripped a double over the head of the centerfielder and
Evan Gilliam rounded third base for the potential tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Pride shortstop Bubba Thompson fired an impressive relay throw to Bryce Hinton, who whipped the ball back to third to throw out Gilliam as he dove back into the bag. The throw got away from the third baseman, allowing Gilliam to get up and scramble home. He slid in beneath the tag at home to tie the game.
The wild sequence proved the first spark for the Faulkner offense since the second inning when it scored four runs. Clarke responded by issuing walks to
Alex Arauz and
Shawn Ross to load the bases and set up the force at every base.
Justice Lucas followed with a flyball out to right that plated De La Cruz to end the game.
Clarke had taken the lead in the top of the eighth when Maguire Fitzgerald singled to left to drive in Brendan O'Connor. The Pride previously tied the game in the fifth when it scored three runs without the benefit of a hit.
Faulkner overcame a 1-0 deficit in the second when it plated four runs.
Peyton Davis's sacrifice fly drove home
Kam Wells.
Kevin Saenz scored on a wild pitch to put Faulkner up 2-1. Arauz singled home
Juan Trinidad before Ross drew a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to force in Gilliam and leave the Eagles up 4-1.
Trinidad led the way with a two-hit game for Faulkner to go along with a pair of stolen bases.
Brayan Garcia started the game on the mound, working four and a third innings while scattering two hits and two walks and striking out three.
Chance Denson worked three and a third innings of relief, allowing one run and striking out one.
Hunter Dupuy faced two batters and got the victory.
CLARKE 6, FAULKNER 2
The Eagles got all of their offense in the first inning of game one and watched as Clarke plated six straight to notch a 6-2 win. Arauz grounded to first to drive in Gilliam. Lucas followed with a single to plate Ross to make it 2-0.
Clarke answered with one run in the second, two in the fifth and three in the seventh to take the game.
Brendan Boily struck out three batters and issued three walks over three innings of work for the win.
J.C. Toro fanned four over four and a third innings of work while surrendering three earned runs in the loss.
Faulkner (1-1) is scheduled to wrap the series with Clarke Sunday at 1 p.m.
