BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Fairmont State and Urbana battled to a split on Saturday afternoon to open a four-game Mountain East Conference series at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex this weekend.
 
Fairmont State took game one by a lopsided 9-1 margin, before Urbana took game two, 7-4.
 
In game one, Fairmont State ace Michael Stout pitched a complete game, giving up just one unearned run and three hits to improve to 8-1 on the season. Stout struck out 12 batters in the victory and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of play.
 
Offensively, the Falcons were led by a 2-for-3 performance from Tyler Skidmore at the plate, which included a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning that stretched Fairmont's lead from 4-0 to 8-0. Skidmore also doubled in the game.
 
Darrin Zombro also turned in a 3-for-3 performance at the plate and Ben Myers went 2-of-3 with three RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Zombro and Myers each hit a double in the victory.
 
In game two with the score tied at 3-3 after four innings of play, the Blue Knights scored four of the final five runs in the game to earn the split. Urbana scored one run in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to take control of the game.
 
Eight of Fairmont's 10 hits in game two were singles, as Joseph LaRocca and Jacob Goodnight were the only two players with extra-base hits for the Falcons.
 
The Falcons and Blue Knights will return to action on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. with the final two games of the series at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex.