BABSON PARK, Fla. - Faulkner struggled to plate runs against the No. 9 Warriors Friday and Saturday being swept by the foe the Eagles defeated in the first game of the NAIA World Series last year 8-4, 4-2 and 9-0. On the weekend, the Eagles scored in just three innings, stranding 28 runners.
WEBBER INTERNATIONAL 8, FAULKNER 4
A promising top half of the first inning fell apart in the bottom half of the inning and the Eagles could not find an answer in the seven inning contest to level or take the lead again.
Francisco Soriano's three run homer followed a
Drew Mackie RBI single to take a 4-0 lead to start the game.
However, the Warriors took advantage of some early base runners and kept the runs coming with six on four hits.
A strong throw home from
Cristian Martin in the sixth coupled with an escape job from
Kelton Pilkinton in relief, leaving the bases loaded, limited the damage in the sixth to just two runs.
WEBBER INTERNATIONAL 4, FAULKNER 2
The Eagles once again jumped ahead in the top of the first inning Friday as Mackie's double to right center capitalized on a leadoff walk drawn by
Evan Gilliam. The lead would be held through the night as rain came in in the top of the second inning and delayed the proceedings.
A two out single in the third put the Warriors ahead 2-1 before a leadoff homer in the fourth would double the home lead.
Jack Brinkley brought the Eagles within one with a leadoff homer of his own in the sixth, but Webber responded with a sac bunt in the bottom half to seal the scoring despite Martin leading off the seventh and final inning of the game with a double.
WEBBER INTERNATIONAL 9, FAULKNER 0
The Eagles stranded 12 runners in the shutout loss to close the series, getting runners aboard in seven of the nine innings.
Faulkner turned a double play but could not prevent the opening run from scoring in the first. Webber added three spots in the fourth and sixth innings to push the game out of reach before adding two more in the seventh.
The series eerily mirrored last season's home sweep to the Warriors. Last season, Faulkner left 27 runners on base and scored just five runs while allowing 21. This season, the Eagles left 28 runners on and scored six runs while surrendering 21 runs.
The Eagles head to the Southeast Rumble hosted by Reinhardt next weekend and will start Friday morning against Campbellsville.
