SALEM, Va. - Freshman Greg Schneider and senior Clayton Freimuth combined for a two-hit shutout in game two while senior Nick Walker went a combined 4-for-5 on the day to lead the Frostburg State baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Roanoke to open the 2015 season. Frostburg took the first game 6-4 while closing out the afternoon with 5-0 shutout in the night cap.
The Bobcats (2-0) held a 3-0 lead after five full innings in the first game before Roanoke put its first runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth. The Maroons put up four runs on five hits, all singles, to take their first lead of the game, 4-3, with just one inning to play.
Frostburg answered immediately as senior Ricky Castro led off the top of the seventh with a single before classmate Kam Stewart walked to put two on for Walker. The centerfielder found a pitch he liked and laced the ball into left center to bring home Castro and Stewart and give the lead back to the Bobcats, 5-4. With one out, junior Jeremy Remalia singled to left field to bring around Walker and cap the game's scoring at 6-4 in favor of FSU.
Junior Nick Huff came out in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning and finished off the game on the mound after stranding a runner in the seventh to earn his first win of the season. Huff went 2.0 innings and gave up two runs on four hits while striking out three. Senior Bennentt Schiltz started the game in his Bobcats' debut and pitched a strong 4.2 innings and did not allow a run on one hit and four walks while strinking out three.
Castro, Stewart, Walker and senior Nick McElfish all had two hits in the opening game while Walker and junior Zach Keeler each drove in two runs.
Frostburg and Roanoke were locked in a solid pitcher's duel to open the second game as the Bobcats collected the game's only two hits in the first and third innings. FSU struck first on the scoreboard as Walker camed around to score on Keeler's RBI single after getting hit by a pitch and stealing second.
Roanoke was threatening in the bottom of the fifth but Schneider worked himself out of a bases loaded, one out jam to keep the Maroons off the board. With the bases full, Schneider induced an infield fly before getting Devin Cassity to swing through strike three and end the inning.
The Bobcats added to their lead in the top of the sixth with three runs on four hits. Stewart led off the inning with a single to left and came around to score on Walker's second double of the afternoon. He eventually crossed the plate on a pinch-hit single from junior Robert Tucker with runners on the corners. Keeler scored the final run of the frame on a fielder's choice from senior Zach Weiss.
After a successful double steal by Brady and Walker put runners on second and third in the top of the seventh, Keeler capped off the game's scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Walker and bring the score to its final, 5-0, in favor of FSU.
Freimuth came out in relief of Schneider in the bottom of the seventh and induced three ground outs in his first game in a Bobcat uniform to finish out the Maroons and complete the shutout.
Schneider pitched a brilliant 6.0 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out two to earn his first win of the season and his career.
Keeler and Walker once again finished the game with a pair of hits for FSU.
Walker went 4-for-5 on the day for FSU, including a walk and getting hit twice. The senior drove in three runs while scoring four. On the base paths, Walker was a perfect 3-for-3 stealing bases. Keeler finished the afternoon 3-for-6 between the two games with four RBI and he scored one run.
The Bobcats return to action next weekend as they travel to Thomasville, N.C. to host a weekend tournament featuring SUNY New Paltz, Old Westbury and Franklin. The Bobcats will open the weekend against SUNY New Paltz on Friday, February 20. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
