WEST POINT, Ga. – Faulkner got the bats going early and kept them hot all game long as it stroked five homers in a 15-3 victory that sealed the SSAC series win over the Point Skyhawks. The Eagles plated two runs in the top of the first to take a lead they never lost. Eduarny Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk to get
Juan Trinidad home before
Kenny Di Clemente hit a fielder's choice to get
Jeyson Polanco home.
The Skyhawks got a run back in bottom of the first to cut it to 2-1. The Eagles added to the advantage with a Polanco RBI double that got Trinidad home in the second. Point narrowed it to 3-2 in the home half of the second but drew no closer.
Luis Lizarraga hit a grounder to get Martinez home in the third to make it 4-2. Polanco hit a solo shot in the fourth to run it to 5-2. Martinez scored on a passed ball in the fifth to stretch it to 6-2. A Keegan Moore homer in the bottom of the fifth allowed the Skyhawks to get within three runs.
The Eagles took firm control of the game in the sixth with a four-spot. Trinidad scored on a grounder by
Anthony Bassett Torres.
Orlando Lorduy and Martinez each scored on an error and
Marlon Oviedo doubled in Di Clemente for the 10-3 lead.
Faulkner continued to pour it on in the seventh as they homered four times in the inning. Trinidad started the inning with a solo homer. Two batters later, Lorduy launched a solo shot. Torres made it back-to-back when he hit a solo homer to make it 13-3. Oviedo later hit a two-run jack to cap the scoring.
Thomas Wilhite (4-2) worked five innings in relief while scattering four hits and two walks. He allowed just one run and fanned a pair of batters.
Faulkner (25-7, 13-5) went 3-1 over the course of the week while smacking a total of 11 homers. The Eagles head to Waleska, Ga. to face No. 5 Reinhardt Tuesday at 3 p.m. before resuming SSAC play Friday when they host Middle Georgia State.
