FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Myaih Cloud's two-run home run was the difference in the Fairmont State (12-12, 2-2 in Mountain East Conference play) softball's game two win over reigning MEC regular season champions West Virginia Wesleyan (14-7, 1-1) in Monday's (March 20) doubleheader split at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont, W.Va.
 
Game One – WVWC 4, Fairmont State 0
Following a 1-2-3 inning from Shelby Reed, Alexa Andrews singled to lead off the first inning for Fairmont State. The Bobcats collected two outs on a fielder's choice and a pickoff to wipe the bases clean. Emily Riggs walked with two outs but the game remained scoreless after one inning. Andrews singled with one out in the third for her second hit of the afternoon. The two teams were held scoreless after three innings of play.
 
The Bobcats broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning with a two out RBI single. Cloud doubled to right center in the bottom half of the inning with one out that put the tying run on base. WVWC escaped without giving up a run and held a 1-0 lead after four. WVWC tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth to go up 2-0. Hannah Workman led off the sixth inning with an infield single and Riggs followed with a walk. A lineout double play and a strikeout finished a scoreless sixth inning for the visitors. The Bobcats added two runs in the seventh and went on to win game one, 4-0.
 
The Falcons totaled five hits, with Andrews totaling two and Workman, Cloud and Wetherholt adding one apiece. Reed pitched 5.2 innings and struck out six hitters while allowing a pair of earned runs.
 
Game Two – Fairmont State 3, WVWC 1
The Falcons placed runners at second and third with two outs in the first inning but could not push a runner across home plate. Emma Gates sat the first six batters down in order and quieted the WVWC bats. With two outs in the third, Riggs poked an infield single. Cloud followed and launched a two-run home run to put the Falcons on top, 2-0.
 
Fairmont State padded its lead in the fifth inning after Workman doubled with one out and Riggs knocked a base hit up the middle to send Workman to the plate. Gates continued to collect outs and kept the Wesleyan batters off balance the whole day. The Bobcats attempted to muster a rally in the seventh inning after a leadoff home run. Gates retired the next three batters in order and picked up a complete game win for Fairmont State.
 
Gates allowed just four hits and gave up one run on 43 total pitches in her start. She induced 17 ground outs and three fly outs in her performance. Workman and Riggs both finished with multi-hit games and Cloud racked up her second base hit of the day with the longball. Andrews, Wetherholt, Katy Darnell and Brianna McKenzie all contributed hits for Fairmont State.
 
Up Next
The Fairmont State softball team is scheduled to resume MEC play on Saturday (March 25) with a home doubleheader versus Alderson Broaddus beginning at 1 p.m. from Duvall-Rosier Field.