GOLDSBORO, N.C. -- The Fairmont State University softball team opened the season against Barton College. The Falcons were able to pull off the comeback in game one to win 8-5 in eight innings. However, the Bulldogs got the upper hand in game two, 8-6.

Game 1: Fairmont State 8, Barton 5 (8 Inn.)

In the first frame of game one, neither team really got anything going as Fairmont State was the lone team to get a base runner. The Falcons looked to be in business in the second inning as Elizabeth Waszkiewicz hit a one-out triple to right center. Unfortunately she would be stranded there as the game remained scoreless.

Barton was the team to break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second when it had runners on the corners with one out. The Bulldogs then performed a double steal to get a run across the plate. Delaney Haller was able to force a pop-up and a ground ball to end the threat for the hosts. FSU was able to even the score in the top of the third as Emma Paul pulled a ball down the left field line as Bella Hess was able to easily score.

With the game tied at one, Barton recaptured the lead in bottom half with a sacrifice fly to right before a two-run single into the right center gap. Leading 4-1, the Bulldogs were able to add to their lead in the fourth as a run scored on a throwing error. Fortunately, the Falcons began to rally in the fifth when Hess scored on a Kamilla Slayton sacrifice fly. On the same play, Paul advanced to third before scoring on a throwing error. Fairmont State now only trailed by two runs, 5-3. 

Moving to the sixth inning, the score remained the same until Abbie Keilholz ripped a double to left center to drive in Waszkiewicz who was standing on first. In bottom part of the frame, Barton was threatening with the bases loaded and just one out. However, Caitlin Morey got a strike out before a fielder's choice at third ended the inning.

Down to their final three outs, the Falcons were looking to at least tie and extend the game. Paul delivered on that with a leadoff homer over the left center fence to even the score at five. Morey kept her Falcon debut going as she was able to strand a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh. 

As the game moved to the eighth, Alexa Andrews led off with a triple to right as Wazkiewicz easily scored from second. The very next at-bat, Kae Compton drove a ball over the left center wall for a two-run homer. Now leading for the first time, FSU and Morey got to work in the bottom half. With a runner placed one second, Barton was able to draw a walk. However, that was all the hosts were able to muster as the next three batters either popped up in the infield or struck out to end the game.

Morey picked up the win, throwing 4.2 innings and allowed just two hits while striking out seven without giving up a run. Paul finished the game going 3-4 from the plate with two runs driven in while scoring another two.

Game 2: Barton 8, Fairmont State 6

Fairmont State looked to carry the momentum over into game two as Bella Hess drew a leadoff walk before stealing two bases. After another walk and an error, the bases were loaded with just one out. Unfortunately, the Falcons grounded into a double play that ended the top of the first.

Barton wasted little time getting on the board with a two-run double down the left field line. Later in the inning, the hosts scored another run off a double, this time down the right field line.

The Bulldogs held the three-run lead all the way to the top of the fourth when Grace Sobeck hit a triple to center field to bring home Kae Compton. Keilholz then drove in Sobeck with a sacrifice fly to centerfield as FSU only trailed by a single run (3-2).

Just as fast as the Falcons scored two runs, the hosts reopened the lead to three with an RBI double to left before a a two-out single brought home another run. The Falcons battled back in the top of the fifth when Jaylin McGill reached on a single to left center as Paul crossed home. 

With score being 5-3, Barton quickly added two more runs, this time thanks to a two-run homer to right field. Down four runs (7-3), Fairmont State had an answer in the sixth as Paul drove in two more runs thanks to single with Hess and Gabi Ramm scoring. Two at-bats later, McGill once again drove in Paul with a single to make it just a one-run contest, 7-6.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were able to added to their total in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right. As the game moved to the top of the seventh as the Falcons looked to pull off the comeback once more. After a leadoff single, the rally stalled as a double play and a fly ball closed out the game.

Fairmont State (1-1) will now travel to Murfreesboro, N.C. to face Chowan University in a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is set for 12:00 p.m.