Morgantown , W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team jumped out to an early lead, but couldn't hold off a surging Fairmont State squad, falling 7-2 in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader.
The Hilltoppers wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Hunter White and Ryan Talbert each reached base and came around to score when Adam Och delivered a clutch two-out single to right center, giving West Liberty an early 2-0 advantage.
Fairmont State answered back quickly, plating two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first to even the score. After a few quiet innings, the Falcons pulled ahead for good with a sacrifice fly in the third before breaking the game open with a four-run fifth inning.
Starter Ethan Conley (2-2) pitched four innings for West Liberty, allowing five runs on five hits with two walks. Tanner Pelaez worked the final two innings out of the bullpen. Despite scattering six hits at the plate, the Hilltoppers couldn't string together another rally. Och led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Talbert and White each scored a run.
Game 2
West Liberty bounced back in a big way in Game Two of Saturday's doubleheader, exploding for 10 runs over the first three innings and cruising to a 12-4 victory over Fairmont State.
The Hilltoppers took advantage of early Fairmont State miscues to strike first, scoring a run in the opening inning without the benefit of a hit. West Liberty broke the game wide open in the second, plating five runs highlighted by a three-run double from Hunter White and an RBI single from Ryan Talbert.
The momentum continued into the third inning. Jacob Sherman added a sacrifice fly, and William Glick launched a three-run homer to left center to push the lead to 10-0.
On the mound, Tyler Skeen (5-4) turned in a complete-game effort, scattering four hits and striking out four over seven innings. He kept the Falcons' bats quiet until late in the game, allowing West Liberty to stay firmly in control.
Luke Marsh had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Glick finished with two hits and three RBIs. Sherman, Talbert, and White each drove in multiple runs as West Liberty capitalized on four Fairmont State errors. The teams will wrap up their four-game weekend series Sunday with another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Mylan Park.
