FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University baseball team squared off against West Virginia State University in a Mountain East Conference battle. The Falcons claimed both games against the Yellow Jackets, 3-2 and 8-1.

Game 1: Fairmont State 3, West Virginia State 2

The two teams went down in order in the first inning but West Virginia State struck first. The visitors scored on a throwing error before a ground ball brought home another run to give them a 2-0 lead.

Fairmont State remained behind by the two-run deficit until the bottom of the third when Zach Brennan drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Maddox Johnston. In the bottom of the fourth, Johnston hit a towering ball over the left field wall as Gunner Riley was on base to push the Falcons in front, 3-2.

The Yellow Jackets had a strong chance in the top of the sixth with runners on first and second with one out. A single went through the left side as Quintin Reep picked up the ball and threw a perfect ball to home to catch the runner in time. A ground ball followed to draw a close to the inning.

Mac Schnur forced a 1-2-3 seventh inning to close out the game and the win for Fairmont State. Micah Canterbury picked up the win as he pitched four innings, allowing two runs (unearned) on four hits with three strikeouts. Schnur threw 1.2 innings in relief for the save, his second of the season.

Game 2: Fairmont State 8, West Virginia State 1

In the second game, both pitchers were dealing as it remained scoreless until the bottom of the third. Quintin Smith got the scoring started with a single as Tyler Haskins scored easily. Back-to-back singles followed to load the bases for Reep. The senior from Bridgeport, West Virginia drove a ball out of the park for the grand slam to give the Falcons a 5-0 lead. 

The lead was all Connor Tingler needed as he kept his strong performance going. WVSU was able to push a run across in the fifth but it was unearned due to an error earlier in the frame. FSU maintained the 5-1 advantage to the sixth where it added three more runs on three hits including a two-RBI single off the bat of Noah Canterbury. 

Tingler got the final three Yellow Jackets to go down in order to pick up the win and the sweep. In the complete game, Tingler allowed the lone run (unearned) on three hits with eight strikeouts. Reep was 2-4 with four RBI while Noah Canterbury was 3-4 with two RBI and scoring another run.

Fairmont State (11-8, 5-1) hosts the University of Charleston on Sunday, March 23 for a doubleheader. Game one is currently set to start at 1:00 p.m.