FAIRMONT, W. Va. – Abbie Keilholz's sacrifice fly that scored Peyton Wetherholt lifted the Fairmont State (22-18, 12-8 Mountain East Conference) softball team to a walkoff game two win over MEC North favorites Frostburg State (23-16, 10-10) and captured the season series versus the Bobcats with a split on Wednesday (April 12) at Duvall-Rosier Field.
 
Game 1 - Frostburg State 11, Fairmont State 6
 
Frostburg State worked a quick start and jumped to a 1-0 lead. Wetherholt evened things up for the Falcons with an RBI single that scored Katy Darnell to cap the scoring off in the first inning for both sides. In the top of the fourth inning, the Bobcats offense made a big impact and pulled ahead 9-1 after scoring eight all with two outs. Fairmont State scored a run with bases loaded when Mackenzie Maddy was hit by a pitch, making the score 9-2 in favor of the Bobcats.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Alexa Andrews was able to cut the deficit with a base hit down the first baseline to bring Judeah Morris home. Shortly after, Keilholz hit a double to make the score 9-4. The Bobcats picked up two more runs to make the score 11-4 in the top of the seventh inning.
 
Darnell started off the seventh inning with a double, followed by a bunt base hit by Hannah Workman. Jordan Novak came into pinch hit, where she was able to score Workman on a base hit ball to make the score 11-6.  The Bobcats would collect the third out and won game one, 11-6.
 
For the Fighting Falcons' offense, Darnell led the way with two runs and two hits, while Andrews joined Darnell with multiple hits. Pitcher Caitlyn Kassay completed 3.2 innings, with 3 strikeouts. Olivia Hylton came in during the top of the fifth to pitch for the Fighting Falcons where she managed a strikeout in 3.0 innings.  
 
 
Game 2 – Fairmont State 6, Frostburg State 5
 
Like the first game of the doubleheader, Frostburg State accounted for an early lead after scoring two in the first. Darnell led off with a double to lift her team in the first inning, but the Falcons were held scoreless in the first.
 
The Bobcats managed another run during the second inning, but Fairmont State scratched across a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to cut the margin to one. With Andrews at third base, Ally Maddy grounded out to the pitcher, and Andrews came across Homeplate to score for the Fighting Falcons. Darnell hit a pop up on the infield that the Frostburg State defense could not track down and Brianna McKenzie crossed the across the plate to complete the two-run inning.
 
Frostburg State extended their lead by gaining another run in the top of the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, Darnell hit a single and moved to third base. Novak batted Darnell in for a run to make the score 4-3. Novak stole second, and on the next pitch, Keilholz notched a single to tie up the game. Morris was put in to pinch run for Keilholz, and Andrews advanced her to second off a base hit. Isabella Yelle pinch hit for the Fighting Falcons to hit and delivered an RBI knock, which led to Morris stepping across home plate to give the Falcons the lead for the first time on the day, 5-4.
 
With two outs for the Fairmont State defense in the top of the seventh, the Bobcats scored to tie the game at 5-5. In the bottom of the seventh, Wetherholt led the inning with a base hit to center field. After a sacrifice bunt by Mayah Cloud, Wetherholt advanced to third base following a wild pitch by the Bobcats. Keilholz stepped up to the plate and lined a pitch to the Frostburg State right fielder. Wetherholt tagged up from third base and slid in safely with the game-winning run and Keilholz delivered a walkoff sacrifice fly.
 
Darnell and Wetherholt knocked in three hits each, while Keiholz swung for two RBIs in the game. Shelby Reed came in as a reliever in the top of the third and fanned two batters while allowing just two earned runs 4.2 innings of work. Kassay recorded the final out in the top of the seventh and was the winning pitcher after the walkoff win.
 
 
Up Next
 
The Fighting Falcons will host Glenville State at Duvall-Rosier Field this Saturday (April 15) starting at 2 p.m.