LAUREL, Miss - Faulkner claimed a pair of six-inning wins Wednesday afternoon at Boots Smith Park over Southeastern Baptist 13-4 and 13-1 by putting together big sixth innings to seal the game in the final games before SSAC play begins on Friday.

FAULKNER 13, SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST 4

The Lady Eagles never trailed, but the hosts kept it interesting for the first three innings, keeping the game a one-run affair until a three-spot in the fourth pulled Faulkner ahead 6-2 with Shelbie Burbage, Tara Ammons and Colby Adams driving in runs, highlighted by the backstop's double. However, the Chargers drew it to a 6-4 game with a two-run shot over the centerfield wall in the fifth. 

Gracie Pittman saw what SBC did and one-upped them the next time up with a towering three-run blast to left for her fourth home run of the season, matching Maggie Tipton's team-high mark in 2019. Kaileigh Harrison's single plated two more before Burbage's batted ball hit Harrison running to second as Brianna Cagle scored on the play.

Julianna Thames picked up the win in the circle allowing just five hits over five innings and Katelynn Inness closed the door with two punchouts in an inning.

FAULKNER 13, SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST 1

The decision never came into question in the second game of the twinbill as the Lady Eagles plated four in the first before storming for seven in the sixth to seal it. 

Caity Jo Lee dropped a single into center to plate the leadoff batter Burbage before Erika Mitchell delivered the second baseman home on one of her two doubles of the contest. Jordan Boyd drove in the third with her batted ball before Courtney Haynie plated Taylor Ammons.

Pittman pulled another across in the second to push the score to 5-0 but the run was answered back in the third from the Chargers with a one-run double. Harrison retaliated by catching the defense napping after an error and waltzed home during the play after getting to third initially. 

Three Charger errors and five Lady Eagle hits turned into six runs in the sixth with seven batters reaching base at some point in the inning. Mitchell and Taylor Ammons each found their second doubles of the contest on back-to-back ABs.

Nicole Morrison mirrored her statline from Friday against Southeastern Baptist, fanning five over five to earn her second win in as many appearances. Meagan Schwieterman worked a perfect sixth in her first no-decision appearance of the season to close the game.

Harrison went 3-4 in the contest and 4-5 in the afternoon with three RBIs and four runs. Pittman drove in four and scored three while batting .500 in eight at bats.

Faulkner opens conference play against (RV) Blue Mountain Friday at Wynn Field. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Read Full Article