MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner scuffled to an 8-1 loss in game one of the day before rallying behind a strong pitching performance in the back half of the twin-bill to salvage a split against William Carey.
WILLIAM CAREY 8, FAULKNER 1
The Lady Eagles got off to a good start in the first game when
Addyson Jarman drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Anna Catherine Segrest. A passed ball got her to third before a
Madelyn Becker single to left put Faulkner up 1-0.
That is precisely where the good news ended for the Lady Eagles. Reanna Nieman set down the next 20 Faulkner hitters she faced to end the game with an 8-1 victory. The Crusader lineup notched 13 hits and supported its starting pitcher with a run in the second, four in the third and three more in the sixth.
FAULKNER 2, WILLIAM CAREY 0
Hailey O'Brien tossed a gem in game two to lead the Lady Eagles to a 2-0 victory. O'Brien worked a complete game, striking out 11 batters over seven innings of work while scattering three hits and one walk.
The Crusaders got one hit in each of the first three innings. A hit-by-pitch in the fourth accounted for the final batter that earned their way aboard in the game. O'Brien (7-4) worked a clean fifth, navigated around an error in the sixth and retired the side in order in the seventh to end the game.
Faulkner got all of its scoring done in the first inning. Segrest legged out an infield single with one away in the inning. Becker followed with a single to left-center to put two aboard. Both runners advanced on a passed ball.
Kensley Wesley dropped down a squeeze bunt to get Segrest home and take a 1-0 lead.
Abby Terrell then singled to right to get Becker across for the 2-0 advantage.
Faulkner (15-8, 6-5 SSAC) returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Middle Georgia State for a doubleheader.
