BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Golden Eagle offense exploded for 28 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Fairmont State University on Monday afternoon, getting a record-tying performance from freshman Hayden Cartt.
 
THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE        University of Charleston 10, Fairmont State 6
                                    University of Charleston 18, Fairmont State 10
 
LOCATION              Bridgeport, W.Va. (Recreation Complex)
RECORDS                Charleston (12-10, 6-2); Fairmont (8-13, 2-6)
THE GAMES
 
GAME 1
Charleston trailed 5-2 heading the sixth inning against the Falcons, with UC's only runs coming from a solo HR from Gianfranco Morello in the first and a Hayden Cartt sacrifice fly in the second.  The bats came alive in the top half of the sixth, scoring seven runs behind three home runs by the Golden Eagles.  Jack Brunetti started the scoring with a solo shot to left center that narrowed the deficit to two runs.  A few batters later Drew Hefner hit his first HR of his Charleston career, a 2-run blast to right center to tie the game at 5-5 and set the stage for Morello's big moment.
 
The Golden Eagles loaded the bases for the junior first baseman, already with a homerun on the day.  Morello smashed a deep drive to center that cleared the fence for a grand slam and gave UC a 9-5 lead.  Each team added a run in the seventh, giving Charleston a come-from-behind win over the Falcons 10-6.  Anthony Zona picked up his first win of 2018, working four plus innings in relief of Charleston starter, Adam Jafine, who was chased out in the third.  Zona allowed just one run on four hits in his relief appearance.
 
GAME 2
Hayden Cartt and the Golden Eagles jumped all over the Falcons in the second game of Monday's doubleheader, scoring 11 runs in the first two innings.  Nick Wilson got things started for UC, homering to center field to give Charleston a 3-0 lead in the first.  Three batters later Cartt hit his first of three HR's in the game, putting UC up 5-0 after a half an inning.  The Golden Eagles would add to the lead in the second, scoring six more runs capped off by a three-run blast by Cartt, his second in as many innings, to give Charleston a 11-1 lead.  Holding a 13-4 advantage going to the fourth, it was Cartt again with a homerun.  This one tied the Charleston record for homeruns in a game with three and RBI's in a game with seven and put the Golden Eagles up 15-4. 
 
UC stretched the lead out to 18-6 in the seventh before the Falcons scored four runs in bottom half, just a little too late as the Golden Eagles picked up the 18-10 victory.  Austin Henrich notched the win for Charleston, his third on the season.  Although he allowed six runs in four innings, just one of those were earned while also striking out three Falcon batters.  Levi Nash and Hunter Townsend each tossed a scoreless inning in relief work, totaling five strikeouts between the two.  Fairmont State used eight pitchers in the loss, none working more than an inning and a third.
 
NEXT UP
 
UC returns to Triana Field on Friday afternoon for a doubleheader with Wheeling Jesuit University.  First pitch with the Cardinals is set for 1:00 p.m.