Skyhawks Swept by Faulkner After Hard-Fought Games

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – After a game yesterday where the Faulkner University Eagles dominated, the Point University Skyhawks put up a bigger battle on Saturday afternoon, coming up short 3-1 and 9-4 at Harrison Field.

Game One:

The opener for the day served as a pitcher's duel with Daniel Crabtree on the bump for the Skyhawks. He worked six full innings on 91 pitches, stranding eight men on base but allowing three runs on two homers. He was contested by Faulkner starter Brandon Napier, who's 4.2 innings were enough for a win in the seven-inning game. Although the Eagles sent out four pitchers in the game, all six of Point's hits came against Napier.

One of those Faulkner home runs came in the second inning when Carter Schellsmidt lifted a solo shot to right-center for a 1-0 lead. The Eagles doubled their advantage in the fourth as Orlando Arellano drove a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Alex Gonzalez.

Point came alive in the fifth inning while still trailing 2-0. Arwin Burgos singled to left, driving in Jonathan Kohlman to cut the margin to 2-1. The Skyhawks frequently created chances, drawing four walks, collecting six hits and stealing three bases while leaving nine runners on base.

Faulkner answered immediately in the bottom half, however, when Edrien Martínez connected for a solo homer to left-center, restoring a two-run lead at 3-1. That proved to be the decision-maker as the Eagles' bullpen and closer Collin Rittenberry held the Skyhawks scoreless over the final 2.1 innings.

Game Two:

Trailing 5-4 after chipping away throughout the middle and late innings, the Skyhawks put together a comeback bid in the nightcap that was spoiled by a four-run eighth inning by Faulkner.

The Eagles applied pressure early with three runs in the first. After a leadoff walk to Dariel Colón, Edrien Martínez drove a two-run homer to right, and Anthory Bassett Torres later doubled in another run to stake the Eagles to a 3-0 lead. Bassett Torres added to that advantage in the third with an RBI single that made it 4-0.

After the sluggish start, Point went to work and recorded runs in four straight innings. In the fourth, Arwin Burgos tripled and later scored on a ground-ball double play to get the Skyhawks on the board. One inning later, Jackson Divido doubled and came home on a run-scoring single from Jonathan Kohlman, trimming the deficit to 4-2. After Faulkner made it 5-2 with a run in the sixth, Divido answered again in the seventh, launching a solo homer to left to pull Point back within two.

The Skyhawks drew even closer in the eighth. Jonathan Kohlman worked a walk and stole second, setting up a small-ball answer as Bailey Stroud pushed home a run with a bunt, trimming the margin to 5-4 and giving Point late-game momentum. Overall, the Skyhawks finished with seven hits, including two doubles, a triple and Divido's home run, while also drawing four walks and swiping a base to stay within striking distance most of the night.

Although he was a reliever, Harris Burns had the longest stint on the mound for Point, lasting 3.2 innings. Vittorio Iacobucci followed him and was responsible for all three strikeouts that the Eagles suffered.

The next series for the Skyhawks will be three games at University of Tennessee Southern, starting Friday, March 27 at 5:00pm EDT.