HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Faulkner opened the 2025 season with thunder Tuesday as it dropped NCAA Division II in-state foe University of Alabama-Huntsville 16-3. The Eagles found offensive success early as they turned three hits into three runs in the first inning of the ballgame.

Jeyson Polan doubled to left-center to open the season before moving to third on a Juan Trinidad sacrifice bunt. Edrian Martinez followed with a single to right to drive Polan home and stake the Eagles to a lasting lead. Orland Lorduy later walked before he and Martinez each scored on an error for the 3-0 advantage.

UAH got two runs back in the bottom of the third on a Brock Butler homer. Lorduy soured the comeback efforts in the fourth when he launched a two-run blast to rightfield, driving in Polan in the process. The Eagles tacked on with three more runs in the fifth as Trinidad singled up the middle to plate Christian Webb and Luis Lizarraga's base to right drove home Martinez and Lorduy for the 8-2 lead.

Faulkner blew the game open in the top of the sixth when it turned six hits and two errors into seven runs and a 15-2 margin. John-Michael Riley started the onslaught with a leadoff single to left before he stole second base. Two batters later, Webb lifted a homer to left for the 10-2 lead. Polan followed with a triple to center and scored on a Trinidad RBI grounder that was booted by the second baseman. Martinez doubled to right-center, driving in Trinidad to move the lead to 12-2. Lorduy doubled to right-center to send Martinez home. Lorduy later scored on an error before a wild pitch allowed Kenny Di Clemente to score, setting the lead at 15-2.

After UAH got a run across in the bottom of the sixth, Martinez capped the scoring with a single that drove in Trinidad for the final margin.

The Eagles utilized a collective approach on the mound as they eye a four-game weekend set with Truett McConnell. Marco Ozuna started, allowing one hit and one walk in a scoreless first inning. Thomas Wilhite followed with a scoreless second, allowing one hit and striking out one. Mose Hayes worked two innings with a hit, a walk and two earned runs. Horacio Cruz walked one and surrendered a hit while allowing one run. Mat Mayer added a scoreless inning of work with a strikeout. Jordan Destefano finished off the game with a perfect seventh inning that included a strikeout.

Faulkner hit .476 as a team and put together a 1.313 OPS. The quartet of Polanco, Trinidad, Martinez and Lorduy hit atop the Faulkner order and combined for 13 hits, 12 runs scored and 10 RBIs.

The game marked just the fourth meeting between the two programs in the last 20 years and the first since April 5, 2011.

Faulkner (1-0) travels to Cleveland, Ga. Friday for a doubleheader against Truett McConnell before playing another twin-bill against the Bears on Saturday.