LEWISTON, Idaho - The third-seeded Eagles saw their 10-game winning streak snapped in a decisive 10-3 loss to No. 1 and top-seeded Faulkner on Tuesday evening at Harris Field. Embry-Riddle led 3-1 early, but a momentum swing caused by an illegal bat and a three-run Faulkner homer gave the Alabama team a come-from-behind victory over Embry-Riddle. The Eagles (50-14) will face host team Lewis-Clark State tomorrow at 3 p.m. (PDT) in an elimination game while Faulkner (54-11) squares off against Lee at 6:30 p.m. (PDT).

Embry-Riddle took its first opening-inning lead with a single run in the first frame after Kyle Chastain scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Jeff Lemon. The Eagles played the their version of small ball as Chastain drew a leadoff walk, stole second and moved to third on a sac bunt from Jordan Romero.

Kevin Maloney worked cleanly through the first, but after getting ahead of Sergio Sanchez 0-2 to begin the second, he saw his pitch taken over the wall in left center as Faulkner tied things up at 1-1.

Jeremy Holcombe was perfect in the top of the third, striking out two Embry-Riddle batters to send his team back to the plate. Maloney did the same for the Florida club in the bottom of the frame and his team rewarded him in the fourth.

Embry-Riddle had a most unusual fourth, taking a 2-1 lead on Jordan Johnson's single, scoring Lemon from third. Mike Gragilla appeared to bring in a run with a single through the left side, scoring Kevin Lindheim. However, Faulkner brought to the umpire's attention that the bat Gragilla used was an illegal one, causing him to be called out and the runners to retreat to their previous bases.

Fortunately for the Blue and Gold, they were able to get a run back when Adam Cellini recorded a sac fly, bringing the Eagles' lead to 3-1.

Both Maloney and his counterpart, Tyler Carter, delivered scoreless back-to-back innings, but Maloney found himself in trouble in the home-half of the fifth as a single and outfield error allowed David Bishop to reach second and a double from Caleb Coker drove in the second Faulkner run of the day. A hit by pitch put another runner on and Antonio Kendrick gave his team a lead with a three-run homer to left center, putting Faulkner in front, 5-3.

The Blue and Gold got two runners on base in the sixth, but Carter escaped the jam with a fly ball off the bat of Liam Goodall. And when the Eagles got their leadoff runner on in the seventh, Carter was able to get a fly out and double play to end the threat.

Maloney retired six consecutive Faulkner hitters in the sixth and seventh, punctuated by a strikeout of Kendrick to end the home-half of the seventh inning.

Embry-Riddle hoped to duplicate the miracle from Monday's game when the Eagles put two on with two outs in the eighth and with Cellini at the dish. But, Carter induced a ground ball from the Eagle catcher and David Belardes was forced out at second to end the threat.

Maloney's night ended in the Faulkner eighth after he issued two straight walks to start the frame. Jon Rapose entered in relief of the senior, but couldn't get out of the jam as Michael Cruz doubled in a pair of Faulkner runs, extending the lead to 7-3. Another double chased Rapose from the contest, but Ronnie Lozada also struggled, giving up a two-run homer as Faulkner took a 10-3 advantage.

The Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but a 5-4-3 double play ended the threat and game, giving Faulkner the win.
 
Maloney moved to 12-2 on the year, throwing seven innings, allowing seven runs on four hits with six strikeouts.