NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Fairmont State softball team (8-8) split their first two games of the spring break trip in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Falcons defeated Malone 8-0 in five innings and fell to Iowa Wesleyan in the nightcap, 6-1.
 
Game One (Fairmont State 8, Malone 0 – 5 inn.)
The Falcons offense was firing on all cylinders in the early going. Abbie Keilholz delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Hannah Workman and Myaih Cloud smacked a double in the gap that brought home Emily Riggs for the Falcons' second run of the first inning.
 
Fairmont State added three runs from Malone miscues in the field in the second inning to go up 5-0. Courtney Moyer scored Cloud on an RBI groundout in the third to put the Falcons ahead 6-0. With one out in the fourth, Alexa Andrews lined a ball in the right center field gap for a triple. Workman smoked a single that scored Andrews for the Falcons' seventh run. Bella Hess drove in the Falcons' eighth run with two outs in the fifth and Fairmont State held the Pioneers scoreless in five innings and won on a spread, 8-0.

Shelby Reed was effective in the circle and picked up her first win of the season. Reed struck out two batters and allowed four hits in three innings of work. Ashley Strauss entered the game as a reliever and punched out three Pioneers in two innings without allowing a hit.
 
Game Two: Iowa Wesleyan 6, Fairmont State 1
Olivia Hylton pitched out of three separate innings with runners in scoring position to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard. The Falcons and Tigers remained scoreless after three innings. In the top of the fourth, Iowa Wesleyan scored four runs from three RBI singles.
 
Riggs led off the fourth inning with a double but was stranded at second base and the Falcons were unable to respond. The Tigers added to their lead in the fifth with two additional runs. Workman led the bottom of the sixth inning with a hit. The Falcons could not bring her around the bases and Iowa Wesleyan led 6-0 after six innings. With two outs in the seventh, Keilholz blasted a homer to left center and attempted to kickstart the Fairmont State offense. Fairmont State dropped the game to Iowa Wesleyan, 6-1.

Up Next
The Fairmont State softball team will have a quick turnaround and will be back on the diamond on March 7 at 9 a.m. versus Chowan. The Falcons will play Goldey-Beacom to conclude day two at 1 p.m. from Myrtle Beach.