TALLADEGA, Ala. -  The Talladega College baseball team fell 17-6 in a run-rule game to visiting Faulkner University this afternoon. The Tornadoes are now 23-9 on the season while the Eagles are now 23-6 on the year.

After a scoreless first inning, Faulkner pushed seven runs across on six hits with only two of the hits being for extra bases in the top of the second to take a 7-0 lead.

Talladega was able to get three of the runs back in its half of the frame, and it started when Jahir Cruz opened the inning with a walk and then stole second. Isaac Guzman later reached first after being walked to keep things moving. Cruz came around to score off Darlin Fernandez's RBI single to left to make it 7-1. Guzman moved to second on the play.  Both Guzman and Fernandez moved up 90 feet following a ground out to first.  Guzman then scored to make it 7-2 after Jonathan Williams grounded out to second. Fernandez took third on the play and then scored when Jeriel Lamboy singled to third to cut the lead to 7-3.

The Eagles got one of the three runs back in the top of the third to push their lead to 8-3, but in the bottom half of the third, Talladega tacked on three more runs to cut the lead to 8-6.

Faulkner added a run in the sixth and then broke the game open in the seventh when it scored eight runs to go up 17-6.

The Eagles' pitching held the Tornadoes to five straight scoreless innings to secure the victory.

Talladega's Miguel Oropeza and Lamboy each tallied two hits apiece and an RBI each. Oropeza connected for the team's only home run.

Cruz, Guzman, Fernandez, and Armando Jackson combined to go 4-for-11 with five runs scored, three RBIs, and three walks.

Starting pitcher Diego Duque took the loss on the mound for Talladega to drop to 2-3 on the season. He allowed seven runs on six hits over an inning and a third. He fanned three in the process.

Talladega is back in action this weekend for a three-game conference series when it travels to Stillman College starting this Friday.