MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner (7-6) scored seven unanswered to walk off game one 8-7 before riding that momentum and a stellar outing from
J.C. Toro to a 7-1 win in game two over Indiana Wesleyan (3-6-1) Friday evening at Harrison Field.
FAULKNER 8, INDIANA WESLEYAN 7
Needing one run in the ninth, Faulkner started the inning at the top of the lineup where
Evan Gilliam was hit by a pitch to get the tying run aboard.
Juan Trinidad doubled off the right centerfield wall allowing the speedy leadoff man to score the tying run. Trinidad reached third on the second out before the Wildcats chose their poison, intentionally walking
Francisco Soriano who already had a home run and a double to his afternoon, in
Jack Brinkley. They chose poorly as the designated hitter went opposite field to secure the walk off victory.
Soriano started the comeback in the sixth with a two run homer.
Drew Mackie drove in a pair of runs with a bases loaded double down the right field line in the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-5.
C.J. Keckler drove in an eighth inning run to set up the dramatic ninth.
After Gilliam's first inning walk manifested into a run off a
Cristian Martin single, Faulkner surrendered seven straight runs, highlighted by a four run fourth featuring a three run home run from Quinn Willard and a two run shot in the sixth from Nick Wiley.
Hunter Dupuy and
Nicholas Graham were stellar in relief allowing just three hits over four innings of shutout pitching with no free passes issued. Dupuy tossed three innings of crucial relief while Graham fanned two in the ninth to get the win.
FAULKNER 7, INDIANA WESLEYAN 1
Toro was simply electric in the game two win, fanning 12 Wildcats over 6.1 innings of shutout ball. Coupled with another fantastic bullpen outing from
Chance Denson who struck out six over 2.2, the quick start offensively was more than enough to give Faulkner the series win.
The pesky top of the lineup in Gilliam and Trinidad made life challenging in the first inning for the visitors as both reached on walks then combined to steal three bases as Gilliam swiped second and third. Gilliam would score off a dropped third strike passed ball and Trinidad would reach home on Soriano's single. Trinidad hit a bases loaded double in the fourth to cushion the lead 5-0. Soriano outran a throw home on a squeeze play with
Jose Vargas's fifth inning bunt to pad the lead further. Mackie drove in
Trevor Torppa who plated his second run scored in the game in the eighth to add the lead further. Indiana Wesleyan got a solo home run in the ninth, but it amounted to window dressing as Denson smothered the Wildcat offense after settling back in but fell just one out away from the save.
Toro's 12 strikeouts is tied for the most in his Faulkner career when he threw seven innings against Stillman in 2021. He allowed just four singles, walked just two and allowed no extra base hits.
The Eagles take on the Wildcats in game three of the series Saturday at noon at Harrison Field.
