MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner missed numerous opportunities in a game one loss Friday before rebounding for a series split in the second contest of the day.
TENNESSEE SOUTHERN 4, FAULKNER 3
The Lady Eagles were not without their chances in the first game of the day but proved unable to push across the tying run in a 4-3 loss.
Madelyn Becker gave the Lady Eagles the 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run homer to left-center.
Faulkner held the 2-0 lead until the third when UTS took advantage of an error to post four runs. Kassidy Davis singled to drive in a pair before Mikayla McCain doubled to left-center to give the Firehawks the lead. Marie Bodily then doubled to the same spot for a 4-2 advantage.
Faulkner appeared poised to fire right back in the home half of the frame as
Chloe Davidson singled and stole second before
Anna Catherine Segrest drew a walk.
Addyson Jarman singled to left to load the bases with nobody out. The Lady Eagles failed to put another ball out of the infield and ended the frame down 4-2.
Faulkner manufactured a run in the fourth as
Sarah Williams hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Kelbi Johnson. Williams later scored on a Segrest single to cut it to 4-3.
Faulkner would twice more get a runner into scoring position but could not push her across as Ella Singletary (9-6) worked a complete game with three strikeouts.
Reece Patterson (8-6) worked a complete game for Faulkner, allowing four unearned runs.
FAULKNER 8, TENNESSEE SOUTHERN 1
The Lady Eagles found the swing early in game two as
Gracie Pittman worked a long at-bat to set the tone of the game. Davidson drew a leadoff walk and Becker singled to left. Pittman then fought off four straight pitches with the count full before depositing the 11th pitch of the at-bat over the center field fence for the 3-0 lead. Jarman doubled the lead in the second when she smacked a three-run double to left-center for the 6-0 advantage.
Pittman opened the third with a triple to right and scored on a
Kensley Wesley single to left to move the advantage to 7-0. A controversial play at the plate resulted in Wesley being called out after a
Campbell Hecklinski grounder. Heads up baserunning by Hecklinski drew a throw from the catcher that sailed into center and allowed
Eavie Polk to score to leave it at 8-0. The Firehawks scratched one across in the fifth to extend the game but drew no closer.
Hailey O'Brien (8-5) worked the complete game, allowing one earned run while scattering five hits for the victory. The result pulled Faulkner back even with UTS in the SSAC standings.
Faulkner (22-12, 11-9 SSAC) hosts Blue Mountain Christian at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Lady Eagles will honor their seniors before the game.
