HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - Right-hander Will Irvin struck out eight in a six-hitter, and Doug Joyce had three hits and two RBIs to lead No. 4 seed Union (Tenn.) to a 3-1 upset of top-seeded Faulkner (Ala.) in the final game on the first day of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round on Thursday at Richard Gray Sports Complex.

The Bulldogs (39-17-1) won twice Thursday to advance to a 2 p.m. matchup with No. 2 seed St. Thomas on Friday. They beat No. 5 seed Asbury (Ky.) 7-1 in the day's first game.

The fifth-ranked Eagles (48-12) scored first on Craig Massey's RBI infield single in the third, but they managed little else against Irvin. They had only one baserunner after the fifth inning, and Irvin (9-2) retired the last seven hitters of the game.

The Bulldogs tied it in the sixth, when Kody Pinson drew a bases-loaded walk from Will Dismukes (9-2), and they scored two more on Joyce's bases-loaded double to right-center in the seventh.

Faulkner drops into the loser's bracket and will face the USC Beaufort-Asbury winner at 6 p.m. Friday in an elimination game.