Charleston Leader

The West Virginia State University baseball team (9-8, 4-2 MEC) split a twinbill with Fairmont State (3-17, 2-4 MEC) on Saturday afternoon at Cal Bailey Field. West Virginia State played as the visitors due to the schedule change. The Yellow Jackets were defeated, 5-1, in the first game before racking up 15 hits to win the second game, 12-5.

Game 1: Fairmont State 5, West Virginia State 1 (Final/7)

Colin Bryant got the start and threw a one-hitter through four innings. Meanwhile, Fairmont's starting pitcher Connor Cramer held WVSU scoreless.

The deadlock ended in the bottom of the fifth. A fielding error by the Yellow Jackets extended the half inning and allowed the Falcons to tally four runs. The first run came across with a sacrifice fly that would have ended the inning, 1-0. Another run was scored on a single up the middle, 2-0. A single to right field then brought two home, 4-0.

Fairmont tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth when a foul ball to deep right field allowed a baserunner to tag up from third, 5-0.

Cramer's shutout came to an end in the top of the seventh. William Glick led off with a double to left field before two quick outs. Michael Stone then singled up the middle to drive in Glick, 5-1. A strikeout in the next at bat brought the game to a close.

Game 2: West Virginia State 12, Fairmont State 5 (Final/7)

The Yellow Jackets struck first in the second game of the afternoon. Kyle Waters and Tyler Overaitis both singled to place runners on first and second in the top of the first. Connor Fizer was next up and doubled to right center to score Waters, 1-0. William Glick then singled through the left side of the infield to score two, 3-0. Two were left on base at the end of the half inning.

In the bottom of the first, the Falcons got two runs back. A sacrifice fly scored the first run before a single up the middle scored the second run, 3-2.

After scoreless second and third innings, WVSU tacked on two runs in the top of the fourth. Nathan Paulsen doubled to left field to lead off the inning. Two outs followed before Waters was intentionally walked. Ryan Kay made Fairmont pay with a single into right field that scored Paulsen from second, 4-2. Overaitis then singled down the left field line to score Waters from second, 5-2.

The Falcons tied the score in the bottom of the fourth. A dropped fly ball scored two runs, 5-4. Later in the half inning, the tying run came across with an RBI-single, 5-5. 

In the top of the sixth, the Yellow Jackets squashed the stalemate by putting up five runs. Waters hit a solo homerun clear over the left field fence, 6-5. Michael Stone then cleared the bases later with a double to the gap in right center, 9-5. Paulsen was up next and singled into center field to score Stone from second, 10-5.

WVSU tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh. Overaitis crushed a dinger to left center with Waters on base, 12-5.

The Yellow Jackets left one stranded in the bottom of the seventh to close the game.

Catcher Tyler Overaitis went 3-for-5 with a homerun while center fielder Nathan Paulsen went 4-for-4 with a double. 

Original source can be found here