MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner split with Loyola Sunday in a significant SSAC doubleheader that saw the home team take game one and clinch the weekend series.
FAULKNER 4, LOYOLA 1
The Eagles clinched the series in Sunday's opener with a 4-1 victory behind the stellar mound work of
Samir Rojas. After surrendering a run-scoring single in the top of the first inning, Rojas settled in and allowed no hits over the next six innings of work on his way to the complete game victory. Rojas retired the last 10 batters he saw and faced the minimum in four of the seven innings he worked.
After Loyola grabbed the early lead on a Jed Cambre double in the first that plated Marcus Steen, Faulkner fired back in the home half of the second.
Evan Gilliam got the first hit of the day for the Eagles with two away in the frame before scoring on a line drive
Francisco Soriano double that rolled to the fence in left-center.
Wesley Estrella then singled in Soriano to put the Eagles up 2-1. The game stayed there until the bottom of the fifth when
Juan Trinidad reached on an infield single. He reached third on an
Orlando Lorduy single to put runners on the corners with nobody out.
Johnny Lopez followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Trinidad for the 3-1 lead. Lorduy later stole second and third before scoring on a wild pitch to set the final margin.
LOYOLA 11, FAULKNER 3
Faulkner dropped game two in decisive fashion after an Eduarny Martinez two-run homer in the second staked the squad to a 2-0 lead. That lead held until the top of the fifth when Loyola sent 10 to the dish and scored four. The Wolfpack plated four more in the sixth as the Eagle bullpen scuffled with issuing free passes.
Soriano stroked a leadoff homer in the seventh to narrow the deficit to 8-3. Faulkner then loaded the bases with only one away and appeared poised to get back in the game with the heart of the order due up. However, a double play ball snuffed out the rally and left the Eagles down five after seven.
Loyola then fired back with a three-spot in the top of the eighth to stretch the lead to 11-3.
Faulkner got one more run in the home half of the seventh when
Tuane Cope drew a walk and reached third on a throwing error ahead of a
Jose Vargas sacrifice fly to left.
Eagle pitching issued seven walks in addition to plunking four batters in the game while the Wolfpack hit safely 13 times.
Faulkner (17-6, 9-3 SSAC) returns to action Tuesday when it travels to Waleska, Ga. to face No. 23 Reinhardt.
