MOUNT VERNON, Ga. - The Lady Eagles (25-12, 11-7 SSAC) came out on top in both ends of the doubleheader on Saturday at BPC Softball Field with shutdown defensive performances and complete games from Reece Patterson and Lana Atkins against Brewton-Parker Christian (19-17, 7-11 SSAC).
FAULKNER 2, BREWTON-PARKER CHRISTIAN 1
It was a defensive masterclass in the opener, as neither team broke the scoreless stalemate until each scratched a run across in the fourth inning. Addyson Jarman led off the frame with a single. With two outs, Madelyn Becker singled her home, but the second baseman tagged Becker out to end the inning as she tried to advance on the throw after Jarman slid home.
Morgan Willingham returned the favor for BPCU with a leadoff single of her own, advancing to third on a wild pitch and a fielding error before scoring on a groundout. The next batter singled to right, and as Dixie Justice, who pinch ran off the error, rounded third for home, right fielder Abby Terrell threw home to catcher Sarah Williams. Williams tagged out the quickly retreating Justice to end the inning with a tie score and limit the damage.
The Faulkner bats responded immediately as Abrianna Davis led off the fifth with a double ahead of Kelbi Johnson, who did the same to score the designated player. The scoring stopped there, which the Lady Eagle defense, specifically Patterson, made sure of. She struck out the side looking in the fifth and sixth inning before registering one more backward K after a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh. She then induced a lineout before throwing to Johnson at first to catch the runner off the bag and clinch the win.
Faulkner tallied just seven hits, all off the starter to chase her after 5.1 innings of work, with Terrell finishing 2-3 for the lone Lady Eagle with multiple hits. Patterson picked up the win, scattering six hits with a walk and an earned run while striking out six.
FAULKNER 7, BREWTON-PARKER CHRISTIAN 1
The first two innings of Game Two were more of the same for both sides, especially as Faulkner came up empty with bases loaded in the second inning. Their fortunes would change in the ensuing frame as Jarman singled and advanced on a stolen base and a wild pitch. Terrell singled her home to get her team on the board before Becker in turn doubled Terrell home.
Bailea Boone led off the fourth with a single and scored on a Chloe Davidson double. Anna Catherine Segrest singled before getting to second and Davidson coming home on the double steal. Jarman's double to plate Segrest chased starter Natalie O'Neal after three innings, nine hits, six earned runs and two walks. Williams greeted reliever Maeleigh Burns with the third RBI of the inning to bring in Jarman, but Burns would settle in to sit down the next nine Faulkner batters.
The Lady Barons finally got a run back in the sixth as Shelby Aiken led off with a double before touching home on a single by Destiny Lucas, who went 5-6 at the dish on the day. Atkins and the defense would respond with a popup, groundout and flyout to squelch any momentum. Terrell would respond in kind by leading off the final frame and breaking up Burns's no-hit attempt with a single to short. After a Becker sac bunt to move her up a base, Johnson singled Terrell home to get the run back. With one gone and a runner on base, Atkins earned a groundout before striking out the last batter looking to seal the sweep.
Becker went 2-3 with an RBI. Jarman, Terrell and Boone each were 2-4, as Jarman and Terrell each batted in a run and scored two more. Atkins earned her third win in four decisions, also allowing just six hits with an earned run as she struck out three.
Faulkner heads back to Alabama for its final nonconference series of the regular season as it makes the return trip to Daphne to take on USSU on Wednesday, the 15th, at 4 and 6 pm.
