MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A tale of two games settled in a split as the Eagles took an 11-5 offensive battle while Talladega took a 2-0 decision in nonconference play Thursday afternoon at Harrison Field.
FAULKNER 11, TALLADEGA 5
The top of the lineup put in yeoman's work in the first of the weekend's four game set with the top six combining for 12 hits, highlighted by five RBIs from
Johnny Lopez.
The Eagles fell behind early on a two out single in the top of the first but answered in a massive way.
Juan Trinidad's double highlighted Faulkner loading the bases ahead of Lopez drawing a walk to tie the game as
Evan Gilliam touched home.
Francisco Soriano laced a one-out double down the left field line to drive in
Orlando Lorduy and Trinidad.
Christian Webb turned in a sac fly to take a 4-1 lead after the first.
The Tornadoes got two back in the third highlighted by a solo homer from Miguel Oropeza to cut Faulkner's lead to 4-3, but Soriano drove Eduarny Martinez in to get the lead up to 5-3.
Talladega got that run right back in the fourth and made it 5-4, but could not get any closer with
Marco Ozuna and
Hunter Dupuy able to calm the talented bats from the in-state foe that had been averaging nearly eight runs a game and hitting .333 coming into the day.
Trinidad's sacrifice fly in the bottom half scored Gilliam who turned a walk into a defacto triple with chaos on the basepaths with a stolen base. Lopez drove in Lorduy who had singled and stolen second to take a 7-4 lead. Talladega got one back in the fifth, but Faulkner blew the doors off with a bases loaded RBI single from Trinidad and then a bases-clearing three RBI double to take an 11-5 lead.
Ozuna picked up his ninth win of the year, adding to his unblemished pitching record by finding ways around the 11 hits to just five runs by issuing just two walks and getting the timely pitch. Dupuy closed the door with two innings of three-up, three-down pitching to put the finishing touches.
TALLADEGA 2, FAULKNER 0
After the two teams combined for 24 hits in the first game, a classic pitchers' duel broke out in the second game with Samuel Guadamuz barely out dealing
Mose Hayes and
Jordan Destefano as the Tornadoes equaled the series as the two pitching staffs combined for 23 punchouts.
By all intents, Hayes had a performance worthy of a win, striking out nine over five and allowing just three hits. However, the Tornadoes capitalized on the rare miscues with three walks and a hit by pitch to score their two runs. Guadamuz struck out 11 Eagles while allowing just two hits and a walk, scattering them across the complete game effort.
The Tornadoes got their runs in the second and sixth innings one at a time.
Faulkner travels to Talladega to return the doubleheader Saturday at noon.
