MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner got stellar pitching and strong defense to win game one against Thomas before the offense went flat in a game two loss Saturday.
FAULKNER 2, THOMAS 0
The Lady Eagles got all of their scoring done with two outs in the first inning.
Anna Catherine Segrest singled with one away in the frame. Two batters later,
Madelyn Becker blasted a homer well over the fence in left for the 2-0 lead.
The modest scoring output proved plenty for
Reece Patterson, who allowed her defense to work in a 76-pitch, complete game shutout.
Gracie Pittman got Patterson off the hook in the first with a caught stealing that ended the frame. Patterson got herself out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third when she fielded a ball up the middle and flipped to Pittman for the force at home. Pittman then fired to first to finish the 1-2-3 double-play and end the frame.
The Faulkner hurler then retired Thomas 1-2-3 in the fourth with a pair of strikeouts in the mix before retiring the side in order again in the fifth. Segrest started a 6-4-3 double play that ended the sixth before igniting a 6-3 twin-killing in the seventh.
Patterson (7-2) struck out four hitters while allowing just one walk and scattering seven hits in the victory.
THOMAS 4, FAULKNER 1
Game two saw the Lady Eagle bats struggle mightily as Baileigh Herrera set down 11 straight hitters at one point. She limited Faulkner to just three singles and no walks over the first six innings of play. Prior to the seventh, only one Eagle runner advanced beyond first base.
Abby Terrell changed that trend in the bottom of the seventh when she ripped a one-out triple over the head of the right-fielder.
Kensley Wesley followed with a single to cut it to 4-1. Faulkner later got a hit from
Kelbi Johnson to bring the tying run to the plate with two away, but Darian Pippin entered to throw two pitches and get her fourth save of the season.
Faulkner (15-7, 6-4 SSAC) returns to action Tuesday when it hosts William Carey at 1 p.m.
