SALISBURY, Md. - For the second time in as many years as a member of the Capital Athletic Conference, the Frostburg State softball team faced top-seeded host Salisbury in the finals of the conference tournament. Like last year, the Sea Gulls defeated the Bobcats to claim the CAC tournament title. Salisbury won, 9-1, in five innings.
Box Score
The Bobcats (23-16) started the scoring in the their first at-bat. Junior Taylor Vandegrift singled and later scored on a two-out single by freshman Amanda Hennessee. Junior Megan Butzner sacrificed Vandegrift to second, and sophomore Caitlin Lovend reached on an infield single before Hennessee's RBI hit.
Frostburg again put two on in the top of the second. With two away, junior Kerri O'Malley fouled off several pitches before working a walk and Vandegrift singled for the second time in as many innings, but Salisbury pitcher Erika Brittingham was able to strike out Butzner to end the threat.
The Sea Gulls got on the board in the bottom of that inning, posting three runs on four hits. After a leadoff double, second baseman Carly Read homered to left to give Salisbury the lead, 2-1. After the second out, Harley Hill singled and scored on Sarah Alpaugh's triple to make it 3-1.
The Bobcats threatened once again in the top of the third. Lovend led off with a single and junior Shari Beavers walked to put the tying run on base with Hennessee hitting. Salisbury catcher Michelle Gravdahl picked Beavers off of first with a snap throw, and Hennessee then hit into a 6-3-5 double play. After making the putout at first, the Sea Gulls nailed Lovend as she attempted to advance to third on the play.
The Sea Gulls added a run in their half of the third and five more in the fourth to make it 9-1.
Faced with the mercy rule, the Bobcats needed to score at least one run to continue the game off new picher Rachel Johnson. Vandegrift's third hit came on a bunt single and Lovend doubled her to third with one out. Johnson settled down to strike out Beavers and Hennessee to end the game and to hand the Sea Gulls the tournament championship.
Both Vandegrift and Lovend were 3-for-3. Hennessee and freshman Bailey Ellsworth each had a hit.
The Bobcats conclude the 2012 season tomorrow with a doubleheader at Catholic at 1:00 p.m.
