ATLANTA, Ga. -- A new era of Fairmont State baseball started with a bang today in Atlanta, as the Falcons breezed past Clark Atlanta, 19-1 and 7-0.
 
The games were the first under new head baseball coach Phil Caruso, who was hired following the 2015 season.
 
Newcomer Austin Norman batted .750 with four home runs and 13 runs-batted in on the opening day of the season. Norman was 6-of-8 from the plate with four runs scored. Three of Norman's home runs came in the 19-1 game one victory as he accounted for nine of Fairmont's 19 runs. Dorian Hetzel also hit a solo home run in game one and Alex Levitan left the park in game two, giving the Falcons six home runs on the opening day of the season. FSU hit just 10 home runs all last season.
 
In addition to their six home runs, the Falcons also tallied six doubles and a triple, totaling 13 extra-base hits in 14 innings of play. Three Falcons also recorded multiple RBI during the doubleheader, including Norman, Adam Meeker (3) and Levitan (2).
 
Nick Opferman (1-0) allowed just one runs on five hits in the opening game of the doubleheader. He also fanned five batters in the victory. In game two, Nic Rush (1-0) allowed just four hits in a shut-out victory, giving the Falcons a 2-0 start to the season. Rush also struck out five batters in his game-two win.
 
In total, the Falcons hit .431 with 31 hits and 26 runs scored on the day.
 
The Falcons will remain in Atlanta for a doubleheader against Voorhees on Saturday afternoon, starting at 1 p.m.