Faulkner avenges earlier loss in 11-3 win over top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (faulknereagles.com) – Fourth-ranked Faulkner grabbed an early lead and never looked back, blasting top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett 11-3 here Tuesday night in front of a boisterous crowd at Harrison Field.

The victory improved the Eagles to 35-10 overall, while the Grizzlies lost for just the third time all season to drop to 42-3. Faulkner’s win avenged a narrow 3-1 loss to Georgia Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, Ga., last month.

Two infield hits and and a pair of groundouts resulted in the first run of the game in the top of inning one, with Trey Haygood scoring for the Grizzlies on Zac Rinehart’s bouncer to second base. Faulkner took its first lead in the bottom of the second when Deivy Palmeiro doubled down the first base line, driving in T.J. Condon and Dario Polanco for a 2-1 advantage. Georgia Gwinnett tied it in the top of the third, scoring an unearned run on shortstop Onix Martinez’s wild throw to first that allowed Josh Merrigan to cross.

Faulkner took the lead for good in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a Grizzly miscue. Polanco’s two-out grounder to Georgia Gwinnett third baseman William Paschal was thrown past Rinehart at first, allowing Darrius Jennings and David Palenzuela to score. Palmeiro then pushed the lead to 5-2 with a sharp run-scoring single to center.

The Eagles scored again in the fourth, with Martinez reaching on another Georgia Gwinnett error to open the inning. After a Jennings’ single put runners at first and third, Condon singled to center to drive in another unearned run that put Faulkner on top 6-2. The Grizzlies cut into the deficit in the sixth, with three straight hits to open the inning off of Faulkner starter Kurt Lipscomb resulting in a run. Lipscomb got a foul pop out and a 6-4-3 double play, however, to limit the damage and escape the frame with the Eagles ahead 6-3.

Faulkner got to a pair of Grizzly relievers in the sixth, with a Jennings double and two walks setting up Polanco. The Faulkner second baseman struck out, but the ball got past Georgia Gwinnett catcher Brady Shoppe, allowing Cruz to score. Rinehart then threw the ball away, allowing Palenzuela and Condon to score as the Eagles raced to a 9-3 advantage.

Condon’s two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning ended the scoring. Condon finished with two hits, three runs scored and three RBIs. Jennings had three hits and two runs scored, while Palmeiro added two hits and three RBIs. Cruz, Palenzuela and Polanco each scored twice for the Eagles.

Lipscomb went 6.2 innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just two earned runs. Ivan Pelaez entered for the Eagles, inheriting runners at first and second. Facing Merrigan, the crafty left-hander struck him out on four pitches to end the inning. Faulkner collected nine hits off of four Georgia Gwinnett pitchers.

Lipscomb’s strong effort resulted in his first win of the season, while Grizzly starter Nikolay Uherek took the loss to fall to 7-2 on the season. After the early error, Faulkner turned three double plays, with third baseman Dennis Morton, shortstop Martinez and second baseman Polanco all starting the inning-ending gems.

Faulkner travels to Mount Vernon, Ga., this weekend to face Brewton-Parker in a three-game Southern States Athletic Conference series. Friday’s game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. central time start.