MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Efficient starting pitching and timely hitting propelled Faulkner to a doubleheader sweep and a 2-0 series lead over Bethel Friday afternoon. The Eagles got a combined 10 innings of shutout baseball from the tandem that started on the mound while the lineup tallied 18 hits over 14 innings.
FAULKNER 4, BETHEL 0
The Eagles took the series opener in shutout fashion on the strength of a dominant outing from staff ace Marco Ozuna (3-0). The Arizona native struck out eight batters over five innings while scattering two hits and two walks while scarcely being threatened during the outing.
The lineup did more than enough to make the effort stand up as it scored two in the first and added another in the second and one in the third.
Juan Trinidad singled up the middle in the first before Edrien Martinez blooped another down the left field line. Kenny Di Clemente then legged out an infield single to get Trinidad home for the 1-0 lead. Luis Lizarraga added a single through the left side to score Martinez and put the Eagles up 2-0. Singles by Jeyson Polanco and Trinidad in the second inning set up Orlando Lorduy's RBI base knock to make it 3-0.
John-Michael Riley laced a single up the middle with two outs in the third before scoring on a Martinez double to set the margin at 4-0. After Ozuna polished off the fifth inning, Roberto Romero worked the final two innings on 26 pitches while issuing one walk and striking out one.
FAULKNER 3, BETHEL 1
Thomas Wilhite (2-0) proved little short of dazzling in game two after surrendering a triple off the center field fence to start the game. The Tennessee Tech transfer proceeded to strike out the next three batters to end the threat.
The Wildcats got the leadoff man aboard via a walk in the third inning before Wilhite retired the next six batters he faced. A hit-by-pitch and a single to open the fifth set Bethel up with a chance to hang a crooked number. A sacrifice bunt moved both men into scoring position before Wilhite picked off the lead runner and then struck out the next batter to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.
The Faulkner bats got going in the home half of the fifth when Eduarny Martinez opened the frame with a single down the rightfield line. A Christian Webb double put two in scoring position for the Eagles. After Polanco received an intentional walk to lose the bases, Riley singled to left to plate Jack Brinkley, who had entered to run for Martinez. Lorduy followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0 before Polanco scored on a fielder's choice to push it to 3-0.
Mat Mayer then retired the side in order in the sixth before Jordan Destefano (1) fanned one while allowing two hits and a run in the seventh for the save.
Faulkner (6-0) returns to action Saturday at noon when it hosts Bethel for a doubleheader to wrap the weekend series.
