COCHRAN, Ga. - Down 2-1 in the ninth on the road with one out, Shawn Ross launched a three-run shot over the left field fence to seal the outright SSAC championship Thursday night with a 4-2 win over Middle Georgia. Faulkner has won three of the last four regular season titles and seven since 2012.

The shortstop's 10th homer of league play drove in his 37th run against Southern States foes as he scored Jack Brinkley and Juan Trinidad. Brinkley replaced Tommy Reyes-Cruz who drew a pinch hit walk for the right fielder. Trinidad singled to put runners on the corners before the Puerto Rican Powerhouse announced his presence once again in a clutch spot. 

Faulkner took an early lead, cashing in a Sammy de la Cruz leadoff single and stolen base along with a Ross single before scoring on Alex Arauz's batted ball in the first inning. With one run lead, July Sosa (9-1) cruised through the first seven innings allowing just three hits of shutout pitching, including 18 consecutive batters from the first to seventh innings before running into trouble in the eighth. A sac fly tied the game before Rafael Gomez gave the Knights their short-lived lead with a two-out single. 

Brayan Garcia earned his fifth save of the SSAC slate entering with the runners on first and second, the winning run at the plate and one out striking out the first batter faced before forcing a popup the pitcher would catch for the final out.

The top third of the lineup combined for seven of the team's 11 hits with de la Cruz going 2-5, Trinidad 3-5 and Ross 2-4. 

Faulkner closes out the regular season with a doubleheader against Middle Georgia Friday at noon central, 1 p.m. eastern.  Read Full Article