BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – Small ball execution proved the determining factor for Faulkner Saturday as it beat Blue Mountain Christian 6-4 to take game three and win the SSAC weekend series.
The Eagles amassed 14 hits in the game, including 13 singles. Faulkner took the lead in the ninth when
Juan Trinidad singled to left and gave way to pinch-runner Luis Lizarraga, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on a
John-Michael Riley fly ball. Edrien Martinez singled to plate Lizarraga and put the Eagles up 5-4. Martinez then stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow by the catcher.
Christian Webb singled to left to drive him home and set the final margin.
Webb previously came through for the Eagles in a big spot in the seventh. After Eduarny Martinez singled with one out and gave way to Riley as a pinch-runner, Edrien Martinez singled to get him to third. Webb dropped down a squeeze bunt to get the run home and put Faulkner up 4-3.
The Toppers scored first in the contest when Hayden Redding tripled home a run before later scoring on a Chris Smith single to make it 2-0. Faulkner got one back in the second when
Marlon Oviedo scored on an error. Redding tormented Faulkner pitching again in the third when he singled up the middle and stole second before scoring on a Smith single for the 3-1 advantage.
The Eagles got off the deck in the sixth when Webb started a rally with a leadoff single.
Kenny Di Clemente later stroked a double down the leftfield line to drive in Riley.
Jeyson Polanco later hit a sacrifice fly to center to get Di Clemente home and tie the game.
After the Eagles took the lead in the top of the seventh, Redding struck again in the home half when he singled to center to drive in Austin Garrison and tie the game again.
Jordan Destefano took the hill for the Eagles to open the bottom of the eighth. He worked around traffic to put up a zero in the frame and returned to the mound in the ninth. After inducing a groundout to open the inning, Destefano walked Redding, who proceeded to steal second and third. Destefano (2-0) then induced line-outs from the next two hitters to end the game.
Faulkner (16-4, 7-2 SSAC) returns to action Tuesday at 3 p.m. when it hosts Talladega in non-conference competition.
