MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Faulkner opened its weekend SSAC series against Brewton-Parker with a 13-6 blowout victory over the Barons.
The Eagles went on the attack early as
Juan Trinidad drew a walk to lead off the game before
Jeyson Polanco stroked a double to right.
Orlando Lorduy followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Trinidad for the 1-0 lead. Edrien Martinez then reached on an error that allowed Polanco to score for the 2-0 lead.
The Barons equalized things in the home half of the inning as they got a couple of runs on the board against Marco Ozuna early. Carson Kirby drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on an error and to third on a single by Kennard Dawson. Kirby scored on another error to make it 2-0 before Jordan Rahn hit into a double play that allowed Marquette Gibson to score.
Faulkner responded in a big way in the top of the second when
Anthony Bassett Torres was hit by a pitch ahead of a Trinidad single. Lorduy launched a three-run homer to put the Eagles up 5-2.
Faulkner then hung six runs in the third to take command of the game.
Kenny Di Clemente doubled to left and moved to third on a
Christian Webb single.
Marlon Oviedo absorbed a hit-by-pitch to lead the bases before Torres singled in two for the 7-2 lead. After a Trinidad walk, Polanco singled home Oviedo to make it 8-2. Lorduy reached on an error that allowed Torres to score. A bases-loaded walk to Eduarny Martinez sent Trinidad home to push the advantage to 10-2. Polanco scored on a passed ball for the 11-2 lead.
The Eagles added to the lead in the fifth when Polanco singled to open the frame and scored on an Edrien Martinez single to right to push it to 12-2. A Webb sacrifice fly to left got Martinez home for the 13-2 margin.
After the noise Brewton-Parker made in the first, Ozuna (7-1) settled in and dominated for a lengthy stretch. He retired the last two batters of the first inning and then set down the next 15 in order, finishing his six innings of work with a string of 17 consecutive retired Baron batters. Ozuna struck out five and issued one walk while allowing one hit and no earned runs.
Jeremi Lara drew a leadoff walk in the seventh inning and scored on a Elijah Baptist single cut it to 13-3. Kirby later singled home Zach Carlton and Baptist to narrow it to 13-5. Dylan Speakman scored on a Jack Morris grounder in the ninth to leave it at 13-6.
The Eagles tallied 10 hits in the victory, including three from Polanco. Lorduy drove in four runs to pace the field in that category while Trinidad and Polanco scored three times apiece.
Faulkner (21-5, 10-3 SSAC) resumes the series with Brewton-Parker at noon Saturday.
