PULASKI, Tenn. – Tennessee Southern opened its Southern States Athletic Conference weekend series with a pair of wins over No. 13 Faulkner on Friday at Bobby Walker Field, claiming victories of 6–5 and 8–5 to secure the program's first clean conference series win over the Eagles.
In game one, the Firehawks rallied late to claim a 6–5 victory in eight innings.
Faulkner struck first with three runs in the opening frame, but Tennessee Southern answered immediately in the bottom half. Carson Foote drew a walk and Anthony Pastrana followed with a triple down the right-field line to drive him home and cut the deficit to 3–1.
The Firehawks evened the score in the third inning. Evan Nelson reached with a single before Reagan Tomlin launched a two-run home run to center field, tying the contest at 3–3.
Faulkner regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, but Tennessee Southern chipped away in the bottom half. Tomlin reached on an error and later scored when Cooper Phillips lined an RBI single through the left side to trim the margin to 5–4.
The Firehawks pulled even in the seventh when Nelson delivered a solo home run to center field, setting the stage for the decisive moment in the eighth. Phillips worked a walk and Baron Cribbs entered as a pinch runner, advancing into scoring position on a throwing error. After Masato Mizumori laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, Gage Beckner lined a single to right-center to bring Cribbs home with the game-winning run.
Nelson finished with two hits, including a home run, while scoring twice. Tomlin added a home run and drove in two runs, and Beckner collected two hits including the walk-off RBI. Pastrana added a triple and an RBI, while Phillips contributed a hit and an RBI. Foote also recorded a hit and scored a run.
On the mound, Drew Sharp earned the win in relief after striking out one in the final inning. Jake Stuteville started and worked five innings, while Will Vines and Blake Medley combined for 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to keep the Firehawks within striking distance.
In game two, Tennessee Southern jumped out early and never trailed in an 8–5 victory.
The Firehawks struck quickly in the first inning. Pastrana drew a walk and Zac Wilson singled before Nelson worked another walk to load the bases. Tomlin delivered the breakthrough with a two-run single through the right side, and Phillips followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3–0.
Faulkner responded with two runs in the second and two more in the third to briefly take the lead, but Tennessee Southern answered right back. Nelson reached with a walk before Tomlin launched a two-run home run down the right-field line to put the Firehawks back in front, 5–4.
The Firehawks added another run in the fourth when Foote singled and later scored on a wild pitch following a double from Pastrana.
Tennessee Southern extended the lead in the fifth. Phillips drew a walk and stole second before Beckner singled through the right side to drive him home. Later in the inning, Hudson Schmitz delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to center field to push the advantage to 8–5.
Tomlin led the Firehawks in the nightcap, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Pastrana collected two hits including a double and a triple, while Beckner added a hit and an RBI. Schmitz chipped in a pinch-hit RBI single, and Wilson and Nelson each scored runs.
On the mound, Braydon Kercado earned the win in relief after striking out three across two innings. Jay Davis started and struck out seven in three innings before Mac Etheredge bridged the late innings. Collin Perkins closed the door to earn the save.
With the pair of wins today, Tennessee Southern earns its first clean conference series win over Faulkner in program history and will look to sweep the Eagles tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
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