Day three of the SSAC Conference Tournament delivered a jewel of a game as Faulker and ABAC met in what would decide the first team in the conference championship on Sunday. A win for either team would not only secure a spot in the championship game but would also secure an at-large bid to the 2026 NAIA National Tournament. 

These two met earlier in the season, with the Stallions taking two out of three over Faulkner at home. 

ABAC jumped out on Faulkner first with a two-run top of the first inning, taking an early 2-0 lead. Faulkner would respond with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at two runs apiece. Faulkner would add a run to the scoreboard in the bottom half of the third, taking a 3-2 lead over ABAC, before ABAC retook the lead in the top of the 4th inning with three runs to make it 5-3 in favor of the Stallions. Faulkner would add a run in the bottom half of the 6th inning to cut the ABAC lead to 5-4. ABAC would add three runs to the scoreboard with two outs in the top half of the 7th inning to extend the lead over Faulkner to 8-4 heading into the bottom half of the 7th inning. Faulkner would battle back with some crucial, timely hitting that scored two runs in the bottom of the 7th, cutting the ABAC lead to 8-6 heading to the 8th inning. 

With a spot in the championship on the line, Faulkner and ABAC would go with their third starters, their aces on Friday, hoping they can get them across the finish line into the championship on Saturday. On the mound for Faulkner would be Brandon Napier, while Trypp Lumpkin would get the start for ABAC. Napier would be the first to be replaced as he delivered six complete innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs, with three strikeouts. Napier would be replaced by Avery Shelton in the 7th. Lumpkin delivered seven complete innings on Friday for the Stallions, giving up seven hits and seven runs, with three strikeouts. It wasn’t pretty for either starter, but they positioned their team to win by relying on the offense to deliver timely hitting. 

In the second semifinal of the day, it was Loyola out of the great city of New Orleans facing off against William Carey out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for the final spot in the SSAC Championship game. 

William Carey would jump out early on Loyola, racing out to an early 3-0 lead through the top half of the 2nd inning. From there, it was all Loyola as they held William Carey to just two more runs, while outscoring the Crusaders 12-2 in the final eight innings of the game. Loyola did all with timely hitting and extra-base hits. 

With the large lead, Loyola was able to save some arms, going two deep into the bullpen, after starter Frank Fernandez delivered what he needed to do, delivering Loyola with seven complete innings pitched, giving up six hits, two runs, three walks, and two strikeouts. James Guidry had the other two strikeouts for Loyola on Friday afternoon. 

With the win on Friday, Loyola will now be going for their second straight SSAC Tournament Championship. 

ABAC and Loyola will meet at noon on Saturday for the SSAC Tournament Championship game. 

Photo Credits: Loyola (La) Athletics, and ABAC Baseball on X