MONTGOMERY, Ala. - On a Tuesday afternoon at Wynn Field, the Faulkner Lady Eagles battled back against the Thomas University Night Hawks in the first game of both teams' SSAC opener to win 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning. And they did not have to wait as long in the second game to get the bats rolling, winning 7-1 in the second game.
Faulkner 5, Thomas 4
The game had been tough for the Lady Eagles. It was not until the fifth inning that they scored their first run, but by then the Night Hawks had already scored four runs. Bailea Boone had hit a single to left field, and Anna Catherine Segrest hit Boone in with a hit that landed right behind second base. Sarah Williams had a big hit in the sixth inning, a double to left center. However, no runs were scored in that inning for the Lady Eagles.
Despite these setbacks, the Lady Eagles managed to wake the bats up in the seventh inning. Abrianna Davis started the inning off for the Lady Eagles with a triple to left center. Boone managed to reach first on a sacrifice bunt that Thomas failed to turn into a fielder's choice to Davis. It was Segrest that knocked Davis in with a single to first base and put Boone in scoring position as Boone advanced to third. With a sacrifice fly from Addyson Jarman, Boone was able to score, and Segrest was now in scoring position as well. Williams tied the game with a double to left field that scored Segrest, and it was Madelyn Becker that scored the winning run with a walk-off double to right center to allow Williams to score. The final score being 5-4, with four of the Lady Eagles' runs being scored in the seventh inning.
Overall, the Lady Eagles had a good defensive game despite the offense only coming alive in the seventh inning. Reece Patterson came in to pitch during the third inning to win the game for the Lady Eagles. After the Night Hawks added two runs to take the lead 4-0, Patterson kept the Night Hawks down long enough for the Lady Eagles' offense to catch up. Williams made a pick at first for a throw from the shortstop, Segrest, in the fourth inning. Becker also had a good play in the fourth inning by laying out for a ball on the third base line to get an out at first. And at the start of the seventh inning, Jarman made a diving catch in center field to keep morale up for the Lady Eagles.
The game had been tight and filled with tension, but the Lady Eagles managed to come back when it mattered to win the game.
Faulkner 7, Thomas 1
The Lady Eagles still did well defensively against the Night Hawks offense, especially with a disciplined hitting team like the Night Hawks. Davis pitched this game and won the game with only one run being scored, which had been a walk. Davis's defense backed her up tremendously, allowing her to have confidence in the circle to pitch well.
While the Lady Eagles did not have to wait until the seventh inning to get their bats rolling, it still took until the fifth inning. Segrest led off for the fifth inning and got on with a single to left center. Jarman knocked her in with a double to left field to tie the game 1-1, only for Williams to hit a fly ball which allowed Jarman to score and the Lady Eagles to take the lead 2-1.
The sixth inning is when the Lady Eagles really began to shine, as they scored five runs in one inning. Abbie Davis started things with a single, with Mandi Hart moving her to third with a sacrifice bunt and throwing error. Boone also laid down a sacrifice bunt, and it was a fielding error on that bunt that allowed Abbie Davis and Campbell Hecklinski to score. Boone was able to score from a single to third base hit by Segrest, and Jarman followed up by moving Segrest into scoring position on third with a hit to right center. Williams knocked both Segrest and Jarman in with a hit to left field, therefore allowing the Lady Eagles to keep their lead with a score of 7-1.
Abrianna Davis kept the Night Hawks down in the seventh inning, keeping the score 7-1 and the Lady Eagles winning their second game in the double header against the Night Hawks.
This Friday, Faulkner will face off against University of Tennessee Southern at Wynn Field, their home field. The first game starts Friday afternoon at 2:00, the second game will start at 4:00.
