CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The Fairmont State University baseball team continued its play at the Mountain East Conference Tournament. The Falcons first battled Charleston and fell 12-2, forcing an elimination game against West Virginia State. Game two was a back-and-forth battle as the Yellow Jackets scored last for the 15-14 win.

Game One: Charleston 12, Fairmont State 2

The University of Charleston got on the board in the opening inning with an RBI triple. The Golden Eagles added to their lead in the second with two home runs to left field to garnered a four-run advantage (4-0).

Charleston scored two more runs in the top of the third to lead 6-0. Neither side was able to score until the bottom of the sixth as Fairmont State had runners on first and third with two outs. Vince Sabatino doubled to left field to bring home Cameron Sheets and Tyler Haskins to make it a 6-2 game.

In the top of the seventh, the Golden Eagles hit a solo home run to go in front by five (7-2). No additional runs were scored in the remainder of the seventh or the eighth inning. The action on the diamond was delayed as lightning was in the area.

Once the all clear was given, Charleston went to back and pieced together six hits as it scored five runs and now led by 10 (12-2). In the bottom half of the inning, Sabatino led-off with a single to center field. Unfortunately, three fly balls ended the chance for the Falcons as they now prepared for an elimination game against West Virginia State.

Game Two: West Virginia State 15, Fairmont State 14

Fairmont State wasted little time getting on the board as Noah Canterbury singled to center field as Ryan Goff scored. Micah Canterbury followed with an RBI single of his own as Quintin Smith scored.

After Quintin Reep was hit by a pitch, Sabatino drove a ball into center field as both Canterbury's crossed home to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, West Virginia State scored a run on a double to right field.

In the bottom the of the second, the Yellow Jackets added to its total with an RBI single to left. Later in the frame, they tied the game with a single to center field.

Still tied at four in the fourth inning, Noah Canterbury gave FSU the lead back with a sacrifice fly to right as Goff tagged up from third. The next at-bat, Sheets singled to center field to plate Smith with the team now leading 6-4.

WVSU had an answer in the bottom half as it hit three-straight doubles to score three runs and jump in front, 7-6. The seesaw affair had commence as Sabatino led the fifth off with a home run to right center. After two outs, Goff reached on a fielding error allowing Smith to double to center field as the Falcons went ahead, 8-7.

The Yellow Jackets responded in their half of the fifth with a two-run home run to right center. However, Fairmont State had a counter punch as the team drew three walks and a hit by pitch to tie the game at nine. 

With the bases loaded, Zach Brennan singled to left as Reep and Micah Canterbury scored to push the team in front, 11-9. After a pitching change, Cameron Moore reached on a throwing error and as the ball ricochet down the right field line, Sabatino scored. Later in the sixth, Smith lifted a ball to right field as Brennan was able to tag and score to make it 13-9.

FSU carried the momentum into the seventh as Brennan hit a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded as Sheets was able to easily score to make it a five-run advantage, 14-9. West Virginia State used the long ball once again to cut the deficit down to three (14-11).

In the bottom of the eighth, the Yellow Jackets worked the bases loaded with one out. A single to right field scored two more runs. Following a few defensive changes, the home team for the game, tied the game with a sacrifice fly. A single and walk loaded the bases once more but unfortunately a pitch got away and rolled to the back stop, allowing a run to come in as WVSU led 15-14 going to the ninth.

With one out in the frame, Micah Canterbury got on base with single as Tyler Haskins came in to pinch run. Reep was then hit by a pitch as the Falcons had a runners on first and second. Alas, both runners were stranded there as FSU fell by the one-run difference with the season coming to an end.

Fairmont State finishes the year with a 20-29 record while going 16-12 in league play.