GREENVILLE, Tenn. - The Fairmont State University softball concluded its four-day road trip by battling Tusculum University. The Falcons split the doubleheader with the Pioneers, dropping game one 9-5 before claiming game two, 8-3.

Game 1: Tusculum 9, Fairmont State 5

Fairmont State had a wonderful opportunity in the first inning with the bases loaded and no outs. Unfortunately, it was unable to capitalize and left all three runners stranded. Tusculum, however, scored a run on an error to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Falcons loaded the bases once more in the top of the second but this time with two outs as they were unsuccessful in pushing a run across the plate. In the bottom half, the Pioneers went down in order.

In the top of the third, FSU got on the board when Alexa Andrews singled to center field as Elizabeth Waszkiewicz scored. The very next at-bat, Abbie Keilholz doubled to right center to bring home Peyton Wetherholt and Andrews to give the team a 3-1 lead.

The lead was short-lived as Tusculum scored six runs on five hits to take a commanding, 7-3 lead. The hosts used two home runs and two triples for its high-scoring frame. Emily Riggs jumped started the scoring for the Falcons in the fourth with a home run down the left field line. Later in the inning, Kamilla Slayton scored to pull the visitors within two (7-5).

Unfortunately, that concluded the scoring for Fairmont State as the Pioneers tacked on a run in the fourth and fifth innings for the four-run win.

Andrews and Keilholz both had two hits while driving in two runs for the first game.

Game 2: Fairmont State 8, Tusculum 3

Just like game one, the Falcons looked to strike first. Unfortunately, the same result occurred as the team did not score a run with the bases loaded and no outs.

Tusculum followed suit as the first contest by scoring the opening run with an RBI double to right center. The lead did not last long as Andrews scored on a wild pitch. 

The game remained tied at one until the top of the fourth when Alyssa McCormick reached first on an error as Waszkiewicz scored. Keilholz stepped to the plate and followed with a two-run homer over the center field wall to push Fairmont State ahead 4-2.

Still in the fourth inning and the bases loaded, Slayton drove a ball to right center to bring home all three runners and make it a six-run game (7-1). The inning was capped off by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Waszkiewicz as Slayton tagged up and scored. In the fourth, the Falcons scored seven runs on five hits and two errors.

The Pioneers tried to rally back but were only able to score a run in fifth and sixth innings as Delaney Haller threw her fifth complete game of the season. Haller went 7.0 innings, allowing just three runs (all earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts.

Fairmont (13-5) opens Mountain East Conference play on Saturday, March 16 at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Game one is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.