NUTTER FORT, W.Va. — Fairmont State (14-18) faced a challenging doubleheader against Salem (WV) (23-12) on Saturday, suffering a 4–2 defeat in the first game, followed by a narrow 8–7 loss in the second.
Game 1: Salem 4, Fairmont State 2
In the first game, Salem took the lead in the bottom of the second with a home run to left field. Fairmont State responded in the fourth inning when
Cam Cole hit a solo home run down the left-field line.
Cameron Moore followed with a double to right center and scored on
Bryont Green's single, allowing the Falcons to briefly take a 2-1 lead.
However, in the fifth inning, the Tigers capitalized on two errors by the Falcons. Aaron Forbes' sacrifice fly brought in two unearned runs, reclaiming the lead for Salem at 3-2. The Tigers added another run in the sixth when Tyson Shumak walked and later scored on Jared Layfie's RBI single to center field, extending their lead to 4-2. The Falcons were unable to score in the final inning, and the game concluded with a 4–2 victory for the Tigers.
Micah Canterbury pitched a complete game for the Falcons, throwing 6 innings and striking out six batters while allowing five hits and two earned runs, along with two walks and two hit batters.
Cam Cole contributed a home run and an RBI, while
Cameron Moore added a double and scored a run.
Bryont Green recorded an RBI and one hit.
Game 2: Salem 8, Fairmont State 7
In the second game, the Tigers initially took the lead with a sacrifice fly from Aaron Forbes in the first inning, bringing Brandon Hoft home for a quick 1-0 advantage. Salem extended their lead with two more runs in the third, but Fairmont State began to close the gap in the fourth when
Bryont Green doubled to left center, driving in
Reilly Bubb to make it 3-1.
The fifth inning was pivotal for the Falcons as they rallied for three runs.
Gunner Riley's single scored
Caleb Cottle, followed by a sacrifice fly from Bubb that allowed
Cam Cole to score.
TJ Hughes added an RBI single, bringing Cole home and giving the Falcons a brief 4–3 lead. However, the Tigers responded dramatically with Reese Rinna hitting a grand slam, regaining the lead at 7-4 through five innings.
In the seventh inning, the Falcons mounted a comeback with a series of hits. Bubb,
Cameron Moore, and Green each singled to load the bases, enabling
Drew Emrich to drive in a run.
Maddox Johnston was hit by a pitch, forcing in another run, and a walk to Cottle brought home the third run of the inning, narrowing the gap. Despite their efforts, the Tigers added a final run with a bases-loaded walk, sealing the game at 8–7 in favor of Salem.
Connor Tingler pitched 5 innings for the Falcons, allowing 7 earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 4 and walking 4.
Braedon Leatherman contributed 1 inning of relief, giving up 1 run on 1 hit and 1 walk, while
Liam Lohr closed with 1/3 of an inning, permitting 1 hit and 1 walk and tallying 1 strikeout.
Reilly Bubb scored two runs and collected two hits, while Green added two hits, including a double, along with a run scored and an RBI. Cottle contributed with a run scored, an RBI, and two walks.
Fairmont State will host Salem University on Sunday, April 12 at Mylan Park in Morgantown, West Virginia. The doubleheader is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
