FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University baseball team continued its four-game series with Kentucky Wesleyan in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. The Falcons claimed both games by besting the Panthers 6-2 and 13-5.

Game 1: Fairmont State 6, Kentucky Wesleyan 2

After holding the visitors scoreless in the first, Fairmont State looked to capture the early lead. With runners at first and second and two outs, Quintin Reep drove a ball into the right center gap. As the ball bounced towards the fence, Zach Brennan and Noah Canterbury came around to score and hand the Falcons a 2-0 lead.

In the second inning, Kentucky Wesleyan was able to get on the board as a throwing error sent the ball into foul territory and allowed the runner to score from second. FSU had an answer in the bottom half when Kris Sutton lifted a ball into left field as Maddox Johnston tagged up from third. After a Connor Bailey single, Quintin Smith stepped into the box and hit a chopper to the pitcher. The pitcher tried to go to third base for a force out but an errant throw sailed passed the bag to let Gage Bibey score. The next at-bat, Noah Canterbury grounded out to short but drove in Bailey to increase the lead to four (5-1).

As the game moved to the bottom of the fourth, Smith reached on a fielding error by the third baseman as Bibey scored to extend the lead for the Falcons. In the top of the sixth, the Panthers added another run with an RBI single through the left side. Fairmont State called upon Andrew Coursin in the top of the seventh to close out the game and he delivered with allowing just one baserunner as FSU claimed the win, 6-2.

Micah Canterbury earned the win as he pitched six innings, allowing just the two runs on five hits while striking out five. Bibey went 2-3 from the plate and scored two runs while Reep drove in two runs.

Game 2: Fairmont State 13, Kentucky Wesleyan 5

Just like the first game, the Falcons got the board first and in a big way. The scoring started when Brennan drew a walk with the bases loaded followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat off Reep to go up 2-0. The next at-bat, Ryan Goff drove a ball through the left side of the infield to plate Noah Canterbury.

Still in the bottom of the first and bases loaded, Sutton singled down the right field line as Goff and Brennan raced home to add to the lead. After a walk by Bailey to load the bases once more, Quintin Smith lifted a ball to center field for a base knock with Sutton and Bibey scoring to make it a 7-0 lead going to the second inning. 

As the Falcons held a large lead, Nick George found a groove on the mound and allowed just a few base runners over the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Kentucky Wesleyan scored its first run with a triple to right center to score two runs. The visitors added another run with an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to four (7-3).

Fairmont State had a response in the bottom of the fifth as Bailey doubled to right center to bring home Bibey and Johnston. FSU held a 9-3 lead going to the top of the sixth. The two teams started to go back-and-forth as the Panthers added another run with a homer to left field. They scored once more thanks to a single up the middle.

However, the Falcons expanded their lead in the sixth when Noah Canterbury and Quintin Reep hit solo home runs. Later in the frame, Sutton singled to right field as Johnston and Goff scored to give the hosts a 13-5 advantage. In the bottom half of the inning, Mac Schnur forced a fly ball followed by two strikeouts for the eight-run win.

Bailey, Canterbury and Goff each finished with three hits while Sutton drove in four runs while scoring another run. Nick George earned the win as he tossed five innings while Schnur threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Fairmont State (5-5) concludes its series with Kentucky Wesleyan on Sunday, March 9. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.