TALLADEGA, Ala. – Faulkner sought no shelter Tuesday as it tamed the Tornadoes 17-6 in a midweek affair. The Eagle bats got going early with seven runs in the top of the second.
Christian Webb opened the frame with a single up the middle before advancing on a
Marlon Oviedo single to right. A bunt single from Luis Lizarraga loaded the bases for
Juan Trinidad. He hit a grounder to drive in a run, reaching on an error to keep the bases loaded.
Jeyson Polanco followed with a bases-loaded walk to move the lead to 2-0. Two batters later, Edrien Martinez singled to left to drive in a pair of runs and stretch the lead to 4-0. Eduarny Martinez then launched a three-run homer over the fence in center for the 7-0 advantage.
Talladega got back in the game with three runs in the home half of the second. Edrien Martinez tacked a run onto the Faulkner lead with a single to right in the third that drove in Polanco.
The Tornadoes fired right back with three more runs in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 8-6.
Faulkner got an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Edrien Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to center to get Polanco home for the 9-6 lead. The Eagles then called game in the top of the seventh when they scored eight runs to stretch the margin to 17-6.
Juan Trinidad singled through the left side to get Dariel Colon across for the 10-6 lead. Polanco then launched a blast over the right field fence for a three-run shot and the 13-6 lead.
Orlando Lorduy then made it a back-to-back sequence with a solo shot to right. Two batters later, Eduarny Martinez hit his second homer of the game and 13th of the season. The swing moved the score to 16-6 and marked the fourth game this season in which Martinez has hit at least two homers. Oviedo later singled home Oviedo to cap the scoring.
Horacio Cruz (1-0) worked two-thirds of an inning in relief to end the third and pick up his first victory of the season.
Evan Valencia tossed a dominant three innings while facing the minimum and allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
Jordan Destefano finished the game off with two strikeouts in a scoreless inning.
Faulkner (23-6, 11-4 SSAC) returns to action Friday at 5 p.m. when it plays at Point University.
