The Faulkner Eagles opened Southern States Athletic Conference softball play Saturday with a doubleheader against Blue Mountain Christian in Montgomery, Alabama. The Eagles won both games, 2-0 and 12-2, despite strong individual performances from the Toppers.
In the first game, Faulkner’s pitching held Blue Mountain Christian to three hits. Anna Harrison went 2-for-3 with a double, and Neely Barrier added another double. Madison Montgomery pitched six innings, allowing two runs — one earned — on six hits. The Eagles scored once in the fourth inning and added a solo home run in the fifth to secure the win.
Game two saw Faulkner use timely hitting to build a large lead, scoring four runs in the second inning, three in the third, and five in the fourth. Blue Mountain Christian managed two runs, including an RBI double from Mikaylah Fuqua. Aspen Teague and Laklyn Nichols contributed hits and runs for the Toppers. The Eagles finished with 11 hits in the game.
Defensively, Blue Mountain Christian committed six errors in game two, which allowed Faulkner to extend innings and take advantage of additional opportunities. Neely Cooper started for the Toppers, striking out four batters, while Jana Shaw pitched in relief.
The series marked the beginning of conference play for both teams, with Faulkner improving to 2-0 in SSAC action.
