HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Faulkner softball traveled to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Friday afternoon where it split a neutral site doubleheader with No. 19 Southeastern.
SOUTHEASTERN 2, FAULKNER 0
A shaky first inning spelled doom for the Lady Eagles in game one of the day. Ella Brooks singled to start the game before a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases. She scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. Abby Franey later hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Hailey Bradley.
Faulkner summoned
Reece Patterson from the bullpen with one out and the bases loaded in the first. She delivered 5.2 innings of scoreless work while scattering four hits and a walk.
As good as Patterson was, the damage had already been done and the Lady Eagle bats proved incapable of getting to Maria Zelenka. The junior hurler worked a complete game shutout with three hits, two walks and nine strikeouts.
Faulkner got its first hit of the game from
Anna Catherine Segrest in the first inning. The Lady Eagles' first scoring threat came in the third when
Bailea Boone walked and stole second before reaching third on an
Addyson Jarman infield single. Jarman stole second to put the tying runs in scoring position, but Faulkner could not capitalize. After the Jarman single in the third, Zelenka retired the next nine batters before Jarman got to her again with a single up the middle in the sixth. She stole second again but advanced no further as Zelenka retired the final five batters of the game.
FAULKNER 4, SOUTHEASTERN 0
The Lady Eagles put together a much more complete performance in game two of the day as they downed Southeastern 4-0.
Abrianna Davis (2-0) started in the circle for Faulkner, working a complete game shutout while scattering four hits and issuing no walks.
The run support arrived in the third inning as
Mandi Hart drew a walk and later scored on a Jarman single. Faulkner hung a crooked number in the fourth on a rally started by a
Sarah Williams leadoff single. She gave way to Boone as a pinch runner.
Kelbi Johnson stroked a triple to right to drive her in and move the lead to 2-0.
Abbie Davis dropped down a sacrifice bunt to get Johnson home before scoring on a throwing error.
Faulkner (4-2) heads to Columbus, Ga. Friday for the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic. The Lady Eagles will play No. 4 Georgia Gwinnett at 2:30 p.m. before facing Johnson University-Tennessee at 4:30 p.m.
