DECATUR, Ala. - Faulkner's season concluded Friday in the SSAC Softball Championship, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings going 1-2 on the day in back-to-back-to-back games, dropping the opening contest to Mobile 3-1, defeating Talladega 2-0 and losing to Middle Georgia 7-5. Starting at noon, Faulkner played again at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
MOBILE 3, FAULKNER 1
Faulkner's task was tall against the No. 1 team in the country, but it stood tall and went toe-to-toe with the Rams behind a fantastic performance in the circle from
Katelynn Inness. After going down 2-0 in the first, Inness retired the next 14 batters consecutively. The Rams cashed in their few chances, scoring thrice on seven total base runners.
The Lady Eagles threatened in the fourth, loading the bases after picking up two quick outs with a pair of walks around an
Ivey Hill single.
Brianna Cagle received a birthday gift of a walk with bases juiced to plate the lone run of the game for Faulkner.
Inness (6-7) allowed just four hits in the loss while walking just one and fanning four. Faulkner totaled three hits offensively but drew four walks.
FAULKNER 2, TALLADEGA 0
Caity Jo Lee drove in both runs as
Meagan Schwieterman mowed down the Talladega lineup, striking out eight and allowing just four hits in the shutout.
Kaileigh Harrison drew a leadoff walk in the third before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball. Lee singled the first team All-SSAC left fielder home to take a 1-0 lead.
Cagle drew another leadoff walk in the fifth before Harrison's single and
Shelbie Burbage's sacrifice bunt which was misplayed loaded the bases. The second team All-SSAC second baseman hit a sacrifice fly to center to score All-Academic right fielder Cagle.
Around these runs, Schwieterman, much like Inness, sat down 13 in a row to close out the game and improve to 13-7 on the season.
In 20.1 innings against Talladega this season, Schwieterman struck out 26 batters and allowed just three earned runs.
MIDDLE GEORGIA 7, FAULKNER 5
The Lady Eagles furious rally attempt fell just short as the potential tying run was left on base in the seventh, despite trailing 7-0 after five innings.
A four-run fourth and a bases-clearing double in the fifth put the Knights seemingly comfortably in the lead. However,
Tara Ammons, like she did countless times throughout her Faulkner career, delivered a spark in the sixth with a three run homer.
In the seventh,
Nicole Morrison reached second on an error before Harrison joined her on the basepaths. With runners on second and third,
Caity Jo Lee doubled into left field in what would prove to be her final at bat as a Lady Eagle. Ammons drew a walk to put the tying run aboard but a called third strike saw the season end in heartbreaking fashion.
Inness (6-8) cruised through the first three innings, striking out five of the first six and was perfect the first time through the order. However, the Knights got to her in the fourth as Hill came in to steady the ship. Schwieterman finished the game retiring all three batters she faced to sit down the last 16 batters she faced as a Lady Eagle.
Burbage finished the game 2-4 and ended her Faulkner career with a program record 103 stolen bases.
Faulkner concludes the season 28-20 and fourth in the SSAC.
