WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Fairmont State earned a Mountain East Conference split on Sunday afternoon at the West Liberty Softball Complex as the Falcons opened a stretch of eight games in four days on the road.
 
In game one, the Falcons got a solid pitching performance from Hannah Absalom and used a four-run fourth inning to pick up the 5-3 win. WLU responded in game two with a narrow 2-0 win in a low-scoring affair.
 
After falling behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first, Fairmont State's Beth Cook hit a solo home run into center field to cut the Hilltopper lead in half at 2-1.
 
The Falcons took the lead for good in the top of the fourth by scoring the remainder of their runs in the frame. Jenny Stubbs got the Falcons going in the inning with a single up the middle to score Carly Clarke from second to tie the game.
 
Taylor Wells gave the Falcons the lead on a double into deep center field that brought home Stubbs and Cook to clear the bases. Wells then sole third and home later in the inning to put the Falcons out in front 5-2.
 
WLU plated one more run in the bottom of the six to get the game to its final margin, 5-3.
 
FSU notched five extra-base hits in the opening game of the day.
 
The second game of the day was a defensive struggle as the teams combined for just 10 hits. WLU scattered its two runs in the second and fifth inning to give the 'Toppers a split on the day.
 
Absalom added a win and a loss during the doubleheader, going to 6-12 on the year. The sophomore pitched 11 of 13 innings played on the day for the Falcons, allowing just three earned runs. Absalom stuck out three batters in her game one win.
 
The Falcons will remain in Wheeling this evening and will return to action on Monday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Wheeling Jesuit at the I-470 Complex. Following today's doubleheader, FSU went to 15-25 on the season (8-14 MEC).