TROUTVILLE, Va. – The Fairmont State University softball team faced Concord University in the opening game of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. The Falcons used a six-run first inning en route to a 7-1 victory.
In the opening frame, starting pitcher,
Delaney Haller got Concord to go down in order. Fairmont State stepped to the plate and looked to take the lead.
A single and double by
Hannah Workman and
Emily Riggs, respectively,
Courtney Moyer singled down the right field line to bring in the first run. Riggs then scored as
Peyton Wetherholt reached on an error. During the play, Wetherholt got into a run down that allowed Moyer to score and make it a 3-0 game.
Still in the bottom of the first,
Alexa Andrews continued the inning for the Falcons with a single through the left side to plate Wetherholt. Following another fielding mistake,
Breonna Marietta pinched hit and reached on an error as Andrews scored to make it 5-0. Workman, for the second time in the inning, singled as
Elizabeth Waszkiewicz crossed home to cap off the inning as FSU led 6-0.
In the second inning, both teams had runners in scoring position but were unable to bring in a run. The Mountain Lions once again had a runner in scoring position but Haller forced a fly ball to center field to end the threat.
Moving to the bottom of the third,
Abbie Keilholz led the inning off with a single to center field.
Sydney Emanuel pinch ran for Keilholz as
Bella Hess reached on a fielder's choice. The Falcons executed a double steal with a throwing error, Emanuel was able to come home and make it a seven-run (7-0) game.
Neither team scored in the fourth inning as
Alyssa McCormick took over in the circle for Haller during the frame. In the fifth, Concord was able to piece together two singles and a walk to get on the board. With runners on first and second with one out, McCormick produced a fly ball and a ground ball for the final two outs.
Both teams continued to leave runners on base as both pitchers were able to prevent any runs. In the top of the seventh, Concord led the inning off with a single. After a fielder's choice and another hit, the Mountain Lions had runners on first and second with one out.
McCormick was able to get a fly ball and a ground out as the Falcons won by the six-run margin. She earned the win, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing the lone run on six hits while striking out two. Workman, Riggs and Keilholz all picked up two hits in the game.
Fairmont State will now face the number three-seed out of the north, Notre Dame College on Thursday, May 2. Start time is set for 12:00 p.m.
