FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The West Liberty University softball team couldn't get the offense in gear here Friday as Fairmont State swept a Mountain East Conference doubleheader at Duvall-Rosier Field.

    Coach Herb Minch's Hilltoppers (12-34, 8-18) were 8-0 shutout victims in the first game and saw the Falcons (28-28, 18-8) come from behind in the second game to take a 3-1 verdict.

    Fairmont scored three first-inning runs in the opening game and that proved to be more than enough for Caitlyn Kassay. The Falcon hurler blanked WLU on just three hits in a game shortened to six innings by the 8-run mercy rule. Sara Simon doubled in a losing cause for the Black and Gold.

    West Liberty drew first blood in the second game. Kayla Mancuso led off the game with a double into the left-center gap and Jaden Conrad doubled her home for a 1-0 Hilltopper lead just two batters in.

    Unfortunately for the Black and Gold, Fairmont pitcher Emma Gates was able to slam the door after that. The FSU freshman shut out the visitors on just four hits the rest of the way.

    The West Liberty pitchers held the Falcons at bay after the hosts scored three times in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead but the WLU offense couldn't break through against Gates.

    Conrad had a big game at the plate for the Hilltoppers, accounting for half of the team's six hits with two singles to go along with her RBI double.

    The West Liberty women will try to get the bats going on Sunday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Frostburg State.

SOFTBALL

Fairmont State 8, West Liberty 0

West Liberty             000 000 - 0    3  1

Fairmont State         300 401 - 8  10  0

     WLU: Angus lp (0SO, 1W), Perri (0SO, 2W), Alford (0SO, 0W) and Holbrook, Grace. Simon D

     FSU: Kassay wp (3SO, 1W) and Keilholz. Darnell D, S, 2rbi; Workman 2S; Cloud S, 2rbi; Novak S, rbi; Keilholz D

Fairmont State 3, West Liberty 1

West Liberty             100 000 0 - 1  6  0

Fairmont State         030 000 x - 3  6  0

     WLU: Tapman lp (1SO, 4W), Perri (1SO, 1W) and Holbrook. Conrad D, 2S, rbi; Mancuso D

     FSU: Gates wp (1SO, 0W) and Keilholz. Keilholz D, S, rbi; Gates S, rbi; Moyer D