BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Fairmont State swept West Liberty, 8-7, 5-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex to open the four-game Mountain East Conference series between the two programs.
 
Following the sweep, Fairmont State improves to 13-21 overall and 11-15 in league play. WLU is now 16-17 overall and 14-12 in league play.
 
Game 1
 
Fairmont State opened up a 6-0 lead after three innings of play in game one, before holding off a late rally by West Liberty to grab the one-run victory.
 
Fairmont State's first six runs of the game came off solo home runs by Justin Brown and Zach Musgrove in the first inning, a two-RBI triple by Brown in the second inning, and a two-run home run by Tyler Haskins in the third inning.
 
After four unanswered runs by West Liberty in the fourth and fifth inning, respectively, Fairmont State scored a run on a walk and a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth to grab an 8-4 advantage with just one inning remaining.
 
WLU would plate three runs in the top of the seventh, and had a runner on third when reliever Steven Ricketts recorded a strikeout to end the game and record the save – his fifth of the season.
 
Michael Rotenberry (4-4) recorded the win for the Falcons on the mound, recording six strikeouts in five innings of work for Fairmont State.
 
Fairmont State recorded eight hits in the win, including three home runs and a triple. Vince Sabatino, Haskins and Brown each recorded two hits apiece for the Falcons in the win.
 
Game 2
 
In game two with West Liberty leading 2-1 heading into the fourth inning, Fairmont State plated four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good.
 
Spencer Delawder drove in the first run of the inning for the Falcons on his groundout with the bases loaded that brought home Rafael Ramos from third. With the bases still loaded, Fairmont State took the lead on Brown's sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Sabatino from third.
 
Later in the inning, Fairmont State increased its lead to 5-2 when Chris Green and Musgrove each added runs on RBI singles.
 
West Liberty added one run in the top of the seventh to wrap up the scoring, making the final score in game two 5-3.
 
Fairmont State had seven hits in game two, including two apiece from Green and Musgrove.
 
Alex Pane earned the victory for the Falcons, pitching the final four innings of the game and allowing just one run on three hits. Logan Smith made the start and recorded three strikeouts in his three innings or work.
 
Fairmont State will wrap up the four-game series with West Liberty on Sunday afternoon at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.