MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner split a doubleheader with Loyola Saturday to take the series 2-1 in the opening weekend off SSAC play for both teams.
FAULKNER 2, LOYOLA 1
Faulkner walked it off in the bottom of the seventh of game one of the doubleheader as
Juan Trinidad stroked a two-strike breaking ball down the leftfield line to score
Sammy De La Cruz from first to win the game. The play marked the only run of the ball game scored without benefit of the homerun.
Jordan Funk opened the scoring with a solo homer in the fourth to put the Eagles up 1-0. Luke Clement equalized the contest with a solo shot in the sixth for Loyola.
Stephen Still threw well for Loyola, scattering four hits and three walks while striking out 10 over five and a third innings of work.
J.C. Toro struck out five over four and a third shutout innings for the Eagles while allowing three hits and four walks.
Toro's defense helped him work his way out of trouble in the third when
Justice Lucas dove to snare a line drive destined to become a bases-loaded hit. Lucas caught the ball, jumped up and tagged out the runner headed back to first to end the frame. Faulkner turned another double play behind Toro to end the fourth when Trinidad snagged a grounder, fired to De La Cruz to second for one before the latter made the turn to Lucas for three.
Nicholas Graham struck out four over two and two-thirds innings of relief work while allowing one run for the win.
LOYOLA 8, FAULKNER 7
Game two of the day saw Loyola score a run in each of the last three innings to overcome a 7-5 deficit and salvage the final contest of the series. Aaron Davis singled home Kason Cullins in the top of the ninth for the go-ahead run to make it 8-7. Faulkner got a runner aboard in the bottom of the ninth before a 6-4-3 double play ended the game.
Faulkner opened its scoring in the third when
Jack Brinkley hit a solo homer.
Shawn Ross followed with a three-run shot to put the Eagles up 4-2. Loyola fought back to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth before Faulkner struck again in the home half.
Tommy Reyes-Cruz hit a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth to tie it. Brinkley then singled in
Evan Gilliam to put the Eagles up 6-5.
Sammy De La Cruz followed with a grounder to third that plated Gilliam to put Faulkner up 7-5.
Alex Saldana started the game on the mound, allowing one earned run over three and two-thirds innings of work.
Ford Hilyer followed with a strong relief outing, striking out five over two and two-thirds while allowing no earned runs.
Faulkner (8-9, 2-1 SSAC) resumes play next weekend when it travels to Mobile for another conference series.
