FAIRMONT, W.Va. - The Fairmont State University softball team was challenged by Salem University at Duvall-Rosier Field. The Falcons held on for a 6-5 win in game one before rallying to walk it off in game two, 11-10.

Game One: Fairmont State 6, Salem 5

Salem tallied the opening run as it scored on a wild pitch. Fairmont State tied the game as Bella Hess scored on a fielder's choice. Two at-bats later, Alexa Andrews sent a ball over the center field fence for a three-run homer to give the home side a 4-1 edge.

In the second inning, Hannah Workman reached on a bunt single and as she threatened to advance to second, Grace Sobeck slipped behind the defense and scored. Emily Riggs followed with an RBI double down the left field line to bring home Workman. 

Over the next three innings, both sides had a chance to add to their respective totals but both defenses and pitchers held serve. The Tigers scored once more in the top of the sixth as a double to right center brought home two runs.

Following a walk, the visitors scored another run on an RBI single to right center. Following a pitching change, Salem stole second and on the throw, the runner from third broke towards home and scored. Delaney Haller was able to get the final batter to strikeout and preserve a one-run (6-5) lead.

After a scoreless sixth for the Falcons, the visitors were down to their final three outs. As Haller stepped on the rubber, she worked a 1-2-3 inning to save the game, 6-5. Allyson Nordling started in the circle and earned the win, going 5.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits with four strikeouts.

Game Two: Fairmont State 11, Salem 10

In game two, it was the Tigers that grasped the early lead as they scored six runs on four hits and an error. For FSU, it took until the bottom of the second as Elizabeth Waszkiewicz singled through the right side to score Courtney Moyer.

Later in the second, Abbie Keilholz drove a ball through the left side of the infield as Sobeck crossed home. The Falcons kept the momentum going in the third as Riggs scored on a ground ball. Waszkiewicz collected another RBI single as Kamilla Slayton score to make it a 6-4 game.

Salem added a run in the fourth but Fairmont State responded with one of its own as Sobeck scored on a Workman RBI single to center field. The Tigers extended their lead in the fifth with three runs on three hits. 

FSU trailed by five until the bottom of the sixth as Riggs drove in the first run of the inning on a single to the out field. Slayton followed with an RBI single of her own before Moyer drove a ball up the middle as Riggs and Slayton scored to narrow the margin to one (10-9).

Haller, who came in the game in the fifth inning, forced Salem to go three up and three down to allow the Falcons a chance to walk it off. After two quick outs, Keilholz kept the inning alive with a single through the left side. After two walks and two wild pitches, the bases were loaded for Riggs. Riggs delievered with a deep fly to right center that dropped and scored two runs for the comeback victory.

Riggs went 4-5 from the plate in game two with three RBI and scoring twice. Five other Falcons collected multiple hits in the second game.

Fairmont State hits the road on Saturday, April 13 to face Glenville State University. Game one is set for 1:00 p.m.