Top-ranked Faulkner completes sweep of Cumberlands with DH rout

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (faulknereagles.com) – Just hours after becoming the top-ranked team in the NAIA Top 25 poll, Faulkner played like it. Patrick McCarthy’s Eagles blasted Cumberlands (Ky.) 15-5 and 13-3 here Tuesday to complete a three-game sweep at Harrison Field.

Faulkner has now won 14 straight games and stands at 23-4 heading into this weekend’s Southern States Athletic Conference home series against Loyola (La.). The Patriots fell to 18-8 and have lost three games in a row for the first time this season.

In the opener Mario Amaral led the way, going 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and four runs scored. Dennis Morton, the current SSAC Player of the Week, added three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Dario Polanco, David Palenzuela, and Deivy Palmeiro also homered as part of the 15-hit barrage from the Eagles. Palenzuela, Amaral, Nick Cain and Morton had multiple hits in Game 1.

The Eagles scored four runs in both the third and fifth innings, and five runs in the fourth – highlighted by three of Faulkner’s five home runs. Polanco and Palenzuala hit solo homers, and Morton connected on his three-run blast in the inning. In the fifth Amaral and Palmeiro each hit two-run homers.

Phillip Anderson (3-1), the SSAC’s Pitcher of the Week, earned the win for the Eagles. He allowed one run on four hits, striking out six while walking one. Cameron Rodriguez (1-2) took the loss for Cumberlands.

The Eagles fell behind 2-0 in the first inning of the nightcap as the Patriots scored on a Faulkner error and an RBI single by Landon Byron. Faulkner responded with two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Palenzuela and a sacrifice fly by Cain. The Eagles added three runs in the second as Polanco drove in a run with a double, and Amaral followed with a two-run double of his own.

Faulkner broke the game open with an eight-run fifth inning, highlighted by Amaral’s three-run blast. The Eagles sent 12 batters to the plate during the decisive inning.

Victor Archie  (6-1) got the win, allowing three hits and three earned runs in five innings for work. The left-hander walked two and struck out one. Hampton Clark (1-2) took the loss for Cumberlands.