MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Less than a month after the teams played a frenetic affair that featured 34 runs 15 homers, Faulkner beat Bryan 17-7 in the return trip Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles hung a crooked number in each of the first five innings of play to take a 16-6 lead into the sixth.
Bryan opened the game with a flourish as Caleb Ramsey hit a homer to lead off the game. Continuing a theme that has played out throughout the season, Faulkner answered in the home half of the inning with a two-out rally. The Eagles entered the day hitting .355 with two outs while collecting 55 RBIs in such circumstances.
Orlando Lorduy stayed on script with a two-out double before Edrien Martinez repeated the feat to tie the game. Two batters later, Eduarny Martinez launched a two-run homer to center for the 3-1 Faulkner lead.
Cyrus Campos answered for the Lions in the second with a two-run homer to tie it. Ramsey then hit his second bomb of the game to put Bryan up 5-3. The Eagles equalized the game in the bottom of the second when
Juan Trinidad singled in
Marlon Oviedo before Lorduy hit a sacrifice fly to plate Anthoy Bassett Torres.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third when Oviedo singled in
John-Michael Riley and
Kenny Di Clemente for the 7-5 advantage. Logan Stradley hit a solo shot in the top of the fourth to make it 7-6.
Faulkner took control of the game with a four-spot in the fourth inning when Edrien Martinez and Di Clemente each launched a two-run homer for the 11-6 lead. Lorduy singled in
Jeyson Polanco in the fifth to make it 12-6. Edrien Martinez singled to right to plate
Jack Brinkley. Eduarny Martinez, who homered against Bryan three times in the first meeting, then hit his second homer of the game and 11th of the season for a 15-6 Faulkner lead.
Cameron Mullins homered in the seventh to cut it to 16-7 and keep the game alive. Polanco ended it via the run rule with a run-scoring single in the eighth that plated
Seth Copeland.
Mat Mayer (3-1) picked up the win with two innings of work while allowing one run.
Horacio Cruz and
Marshall Robinson each worked a scoreless inning.
Samir Rojas made his season debut, working a scoreless inning in his return from an injury that ended his 2024 campaign.
Faulkner (20-5, 9-3 SSAC) travels to Mount Vernon, Ga. Friday for a three-game SSAC set against Brewton-Parker.
