WHEELING, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University baseball team hit the road to face Wheeling University. The Falcons ultimately fell to the Cardinals in both games, 10-9 and 9-6.

Game 1: Wheeling 10, Fairmont State 9

Wheeling captured the early lead with a two-run double to left field. The score remained this way until the top of third when Gunner Riley hit a solo home run to left center. 

The Cardinals added to their lead in the bottom part of the frame with a walk before a grand slam to open a 7-1 advantage. 

In the top of the fifth, Fairmont State started to chip away at the deficit when Cameron Moore singled to drive in Tyler Wilkinson. Two at-bats later, Quintin Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Riley to make it a four-run contest (7-3).

The Falcons continued to work at the lead as two runs scored on a Ryan Goff double to center. Riley followed with an RBI single to left center as Goff scored to trim the difference to just one, 7-6.

Wheeling expanded the lead back to two with a home run to left. However, the visitors were not done as a wild pitch allowed Tyler Haskins to score. Zach Brennan then drove in a run with ground ball to tie the game at eight. The Falcons then took their first lead of the game when Connor Bailey scored on a passed ball.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals were able to get runners in scoring position with just one out before a sacrifice fly to right tied the game at nine. Unfortunately, the hosts won the game on a single to right field.

Riley finished the game 3-4 as he drove in two runs and scored two more.

Game 2: Wheeling 9, Fairmont State 6

In the second game, Fairmont State took the early lead when Smith was able to bring home Moore for the 1-0 lead. Wheeling tied the game in the bottom of the second when a run scored on a passed ball. 

The Falcons recaptured the lead in third when Haskins scored on a Brennan sacrifice fly to right field. Wheeling responded with two runs in the bottom half to go in front, 3-2.

The seesaw affair continued in the fourth when Bailey drove in Goff with a sacrifice fly. The Cardinals reclaimed the advantage with two RBI hits before a sacrifice fly put them ahead 6-3.

Smith kept the consecutive innings with scoring a run alive with a solo shot to right center but like before, the hosts answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. 

In the sixth, Riley doubled to left center to bring home Wilkinson before scoring on a sacrifice fly. As the game was only a one-run difference, Wheeling hit a two-run homer to center to make it a 9-6 contest.

Down to its final three outs, Fairmont State tried to cut into the lead but left two runners on base as it fell by the three-run deficit.

Fairmont State (18-19, 11-7) returns to Wheeling to conclude its four-game series against the Cardinals on Saturday, April 19. Start time is set for 3:30 p.m.