MONTGOMERY, Ala. -
J.C. Toro shut down one of the best offenses in the country as the offense scored 11 unanswered en route to a 11-1 Faulkner (25-11, 14-2 SSAC) win to open the SSAC Series of the Week versus Talladega (17-17, 8-8 SSAC) at Harrison Field Thursday night.
Talladega averaged nearly 10 hits per game this season entering the night. But the righty handled the Tornadoes like James Spann with rolled up sleeves. Toro (4-2) held the third-ranked offense in batting average nationally to just two hits over six innings of one-run pitching with eight strikeouts, facing just three over the minimum.The Tornadoes got to Toro in the second, collecting both hits including an RBI double from Jose Santiago to take a lead, but that's all the visitors could do against the Puerto Rican pitcher who pulled together three one-two-three innings in the next four outings, surrendering just one walk in the time.
The offense lit up in the third turning six hits into six runs.
Shawn Ross leadoff the inning with a single before
Justice Lucas was hit by a pitch.
Evan Gilliam's RBI single to center scored two as the centerfielder misplayed the ball allowing Lucas to score to take the lead.
Kevin Saenz's single scored Gilliam before he advanced to third before
Jordan Funk ripped a shot off the top of the left centerfield fence to put two in scoring position to be driven in by Sammy de la Cruz's single to right center. A stolen base and a
Juan Trinidad double drove in de la Cruz to take a commanding lead and chase Talladega starter Ricardo Blackmon (2-2).
Jack Brinkley and de la Cruz drew back-to-back bases loaded walks to take an 8-1 lead in the fourth. A throwing error on the back end of a double play attempt scored
Ben Hargis who ran for
Alex Arauz's walk in the fifth with two outs. Head Coach
Patrick McCarthy pushed the right buttons in the sixth as two pinch hitters combined to add the 10th run.
Kam Wells was hit by a pitch before swiping second as the throw hit his feet and kicked into left center for Wells to take third.
Tommy Reyes-Cruz ripped a double down the right field line.
Gilliam walked the game off with a sac fly to score
Ben Hargis after Arauz's leadoff single and
Peyton Davis's single with a Hargis stolen base to put runners on the corners.
11 different Eagles recorded hits with de la Cruz and Ross recording two each. de la Cruz and Gilliam led with three RBIs each. Hargis scored thrice and Gilliam twice.
Dupuy got a strikeout in an inning of relief work.
Faulkner's magic number to clinch the regular season title sits at five with eight games remaining after Brewton-Parker (10-6)'s loss at William Carey (11-8). Both series will play twice Friday.
The Eagles and Tornadoes play a doubleheader Friday afternoon starting at 2 p.m.
