DECATUR, Ala. - For the third time in the last nine days, the Lady Eagles (35-14, 17-7 SSAC) used some final inning magic to walk off a contest as they played two receiving votes SSAC opponents with national tournament implications and resume comparisons on the line. They couldn't keep it going unfortunately, suffering their second run-rule loss of the postseason but just their second of the season, to end their stay in the 2026 SSAC Championship.
FAULKNER 2, TENNESSEE SOUTHERN 1 (9 INN.)
Faulkner opened its second day of the tourney in the loser's bracket, needing to stay alive after falling to Mobile on Thursday and make its case to the NAIA selection committee while also looking to avenge its home sweep at the hands of UT Southern (30-17, 12-10 SSAC) in March.
The fans were treated to a defensive masterclass as both runs scored in the regulation innings were unearned. That was all the #5 seed Firehawks got across even as pitcher Ella Singletary and Hannah Lindsey turned in 3-4 days at the plate and as Singletary went the distance with eight hits and four walks allowed with two strikeouts. She would allow only one earned run, but it was the one that would be the difference in just her sixth loss of the season in 22 decisions. It wasn't enough for a UTS team on its second straight extra-inning game after advancing to this game on a walkoff 14-inning win over Thomas on Thursday night.
The Lady Eagle defense made sure her work wouldn't stand, particularly Reece Patterson, who did yeoman's work for the second day in a row, scattering 11 hits with just one walk and a strikeout and just the lone unearned run. Madelyn Becker and Bailea Boone each logged 2-3 days at the plate with a walk, with Boone scoring both of Faulkner's runs. Anna Catherine Segrest went 2-4 with the latter hit serving as the walkoff RBI on a bunt single.
SSAC Freshman of the Year Alaina Grace King led off the second with a single and got to third on a Singletary single with one out. She attempted to steal home as catcher Sarah Williams threw to Segrest at short to cut off an attempted steal, but Segrest promptly threw back to Williams, who tagged King out at home. Lindsey then fouled out to Kelbi Johnson at first to end the threat.
Faulkner left the bases loaded in the bottom half before returning the favor to UTS in the top of the third and fourth. After a leadoff single in the third, Patterson issued a strikeout. With another single, the runners advanced on a groundout before a walk loaded the bases. However, King hit to Segrest, who contorted to catch the lineout. Patterson secured a groundout to open the fourth frame before three singles to the outfield loaded the bases once again. The next batter hit to Chloe Davidson at second base, who threw home to Williams to retire the lead runner, before Boone caught a fly ball to left to end another threat.
The scoring drought was finally broken in the bottom of the fifth as Boone led off with a single and advanced to second on a Davidson sac bunt. After a lineout, Jarman hit a fly ball to right that looked to be the end of another chance, but the fielder dropped it and Boone sped home on the error for a 1-0 lead that appeared would hold up as the winning score.
It was not to be, as the leadoff batter for the Firehawks in the seventh frame reached on a fielding error and came around to score on an RBI single to center. Groundouts to Becker, Segrest and Patterson prevented further damage. A baserunning miscue on a would-be tagup in the bottom half stranded two and neutralized the threat of a seven-inning walkoff. Segrest and Davidson secured groundouts in the eighth sandwiched around a double to left center, immediately after which Abby Terrell made a retreating grab at the right field fence for the second out.
Boone led off the bottom of the ninth once more and hit a single to right center. She advanced to second on a Davidson sac bunt before securing another bag on a wild pitch. Two pitches later, Segrest laid down a perfect bunt, allowing ample time for the speedy Boone to slide home under the tag for the win.
BLUE MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN 11, FAULKNER 3 (6 INN.)
Game Two began inauspiciously with the #4 seed Toppers (38-15-1, 12-10 SSAC) taking advantage of a four-pitch walk, a single and advance on the throw, a hit batter and a passed ball on a strikeout that would have ended the top of the first with Faulkner down just 1-0. As is, the second run scored on the play, and an RBI single made it 3-0 with two unearned runs. Only an out-of-the-box call on the next batter would bring about the third out.
With two outs on the board in the bottom half, Addyson Jarman hit a longball to left to get the Lady Eagles on the board with her second homer of the tournament to get a run back. Lana Atkins opened the second frame with a strikeout. However, two at-bats later, the resulting play off an error at third caught the lead runner stealing third but got the batter into scoring position, who also came around to score an unearned run on a double to end Atkins's day. She took just her second loss of the season in 1.2 innings with four hits and two walks but just one earned run allowed with two strikeouts.
Faulkner got as close as it would get in the bottom of the fourth, as Williams led off with a single and Becker reached on an error. RBI singles from Abbie Davis and Kelbi Johnson would score the two runners to get their team within one. Those two baserunners and one more in the fifth would all be left on base. The floodgates then opened in the sixth, as the Toppers plated seven runs to trigger the run rule thanks to four hits, three walks and two fielding errors. BMCU only tallied nine hits to six for Faulkner but took advantage of unforced mistakes.
The Lady Eagles must now wait and see if they will be rewarded with a bid to nationals for their most wins in a season since their only previous bid in 2018. The selection show for the NAIA Softball National Championship field and Opening Round brackets is on May 6 at 5 pm streamed on the PlayNAIA YouTube channel.
