FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Emily Riggs blasted three home runs in the Fairmont State softball (7-7) home-opening doubleheader sweep over Malone (1-3) on Tuesday (Feb. 28) at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont, W.Va.
 
Riggs smacked a pair of home runs in the 6-2 Fairmont State win in game one and hit a three-run dinger in Fairmont State's 5-1 game two win.
 
Game One – Fairmont State 6, Malone 2
The Pioneers loaded the bases with one out in the first inning. Mackenzie Maddy scooped up a grounder and threw out the runner at the plate to keep Malone off the scoreboard. Caitlyn Kassay fanned the next hitter and the game remained scoreless. Peyton Wetherholt doubled to right center with two outs, but the game remained scoreless after two innings.
 
Kassay induced two flyouts to end the third inning. Fairmont State poured on four runs in the bottom of the third. Maddy led the inning off with a double in the left-center field gap. Judeah Morris drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Alexa Andrews connected on a pitch and cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple. Riggs smoked her first home run of the afternoon and scored Andrews to complete the big inning for the Falcons.
 
Riggs stepped back into the box with two outs in the fifth inning and a runner on first. She smashed a no-doubter over the center field fence and scored Hannah Workman to put Fairmont State ahead 6-0. The Pioneers scratched across two runs in the final inning, but the Falcons won the season opener, 6-2.
 
Kassay tossed 6.1 innings and punched out six batters while not allowing an earned run. Olivia Hylton came on in relief and secured the final two outs, including a strikeout.
 
Game Two – Fairmont State 5, Malone 1
Andrews and Workman hit for consecutive singles to start the bottom of the first inning. Riggs followed with a walk to load the bases. With one out, Wetherholt walked with the bases juiced and Andrews scored the first run of the game. The Pioneers answered with a home run in the top of the third and the score was 1-1 after three innings.
 
Maddy hit her second double of the twin bill in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out. Andrews delivered a clutch hit with two outs to give Fairmont State a 2-1 advantage. Workman singled and moved Andrews to third with Riggs coming to the plate. Riggs deposited a 3-1 pitch over the left field fence and wrapped up a four-run fourth inning for Fairmont State.
 
Emma Gates kept the Malone hitters in check and allowed four hits in five innings of work. She handed the ball off to Ally Maddy, who pitched two scoreless no-hit innings to seal the victory for Fairmont State.
 
Up Next
The Fairmont State softball team will travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. and will play a rematch with Malone on Monday (March 6) at 3 p.m. before facing Iowa Wesleyan at 7 p.m. Live stats will be provided on fightingfalcons.com in South Carolina.