YORK, Pa. - The Frostburg State softball team used a big first inning in game one and a spectacular, extra-innings pitching performance from senior Jordan Wright in game two to earn a Capital Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep over York (Pa.), 5-2 and 1-0 in eight innings.
The Bobcats posted three in the top of the first of game one, as junior Taylor Vandegrift and sophomores Emilee Ray and Caitlin Lovend reached to lead off the game and load the bases. Freshman Amanda Hennessee singled in Vandegrift and Ray to make it 2-0. Lovend was out on the play going for third, but the Bobcats offense continued to roll.
Juniors Megan Butzner and Shari Beavers each singled, with Beavers' driving home Hennessee. Frostburg could have had more. Junior Megan Foy walked to reload the bases, but York's Brittany Therres limited further damage with a strikeout and pop out to end the inning with three runs crossing.
In the bottom of the third with the Bobcats ahead, 3-1, York threatened to pull closer. With two on and two out, third baseman Cory Urkuski was waived home on a single to right by Therres but was gunned down at the plate by Ray to end the inning.
The Bobcats added solo runs in the fifth and seventh. Lovend doubled home Vandegrift in the fifth, while Butzner singled home freshman Bailey Ellsworth in the seventh.
Senior pitcher Lauren Scrivener picked up the complete-game victory. Vandegrift, Hennessee, and Butzner each had two hits.
In game two, the spotlight shifted to Wright. She pitched all eight innings and allowed no runs, three hits and two walks while punching out two. The Spartans did not have a runner reach second base after the second inning until Vanessa Mendez was placed there due to international tiebreaking procedures in the bottom of the eighth.
On the other side, Frostburg could not take advantage in the first seven innings. In the top of the eighth, Vandegrift was placed at second base and was sacrificed to third by Ray. Lovend hit a sacrifice fly to bring her home and finally break the scoreless tie.
In the bottom half, with Mendez on second, Wright got a strikeout and two groundouts to end the game.
Ray was 2-for-3 to lead the Bobcats.
Frostburg hosts Salisbury for a CAC doubleheader Saturday at noon.
