Fairmont St. Holds Off Late Lock Haven Surge, Wins 14-10

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Fairmont State survived a furious Lock Haven comeback attempt Friday morning, riding a pair of explosive innings and a dominant relief performance to claim a 14-10 victory over the visiting Bald Eagles at Dale Miller Field.

The Falcons, now 2-3 on the season, sent 10 men to the plate in a pivotal fifth inning and tacked on four more in the seventh to put the game out of reach, overcoming a six-run Lock Haven sixth that briefly made things uncomfortable.

It was Fairmont reliever I. Meter who ultimately slammed the door. Entering in the sixth inning with the Falcons nursing a precarious lead, Meter was nothing short of brilliant over four innings of work, allowing zero hits, walking three and striking out three while hitting three batters — but keeping Lock Haven off the scoreboard entirely. He earned the win, improving to 1-0 on the season.

Fairmont's offensive engine was fueled by a balanced attack that tortured Lock Haven's pitching staff. Designated hitter T. Hughes was a nightmare for the Bald Eagles, going 4-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. First baseman C. Cottle was equally destructive, collecting three hits, a double, four RBI and two runs scored in five at-bats. Third baseman M. Johnston supplied the game's biggest single swing with a solo home run in the sixth to push Fairmont's lead back out, finishing 2-for-4 with an additional RBI and three runs scored. Second baseman R. Bubb added three hits, three runs and a stolen base, providing a constant catalyst atop the order.

Lock Haven mounted its most dangerous threat in the sixth inning, chasing starter M. Canterbur and torching reliever L. Emory for six runs on five hits without recording an out. The inning was highlighted by J. Bower's two-run triple and G. Fravel reaching on a two-RBI error, trimming Fairmont's lead to 9-8. But Meter came on and immediately stabilized the situation, ending the threat and keeping the deficit from shrinking further.

Z. McEllroy provided the Bald Eagles' most significant power display, crushing a two-run home run in the fifth inning that had Lock Haven within 8-4 at the time. J. Bower contributed a triple and two RBI, and J. Martoccio delivered a key pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth. But Lock Haven's pitching staff, which used five arms on the afternoon, simply could not contain Fairmont's lineup when the big innings arrived.

Lock Haven starting pitcher T. Serb lasted just 3.1 innings, surrendering seven hits and three earned runs while battling through consistent traffic. The bullpen provided little relief, as A. Kramer absorbed the bulk of the damage in a chaotic fifth inning that saw Fairmont score six times.

The Bald Eagles fall to 1-4 overall with the loss. Both teams used the designated hitter in the nine-inning contest that lasted exactly three hours at Dale Miller Field.