Newport News, Va. – The Frostburg State softball team took on second-seeded and No. 9 ranked Christopher Newport and third-seed Salisbury in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Tournament at the campus of Christopher Newport on Saturday. The Bobcats split the day, falling to CNU and defeating Salisbury in dramatic fashion.
 
The Bobcats jumped out to an early two-run lead against the Captains, but three home runs powered CNU to an 8-2 victory.
 
Facing elimination, the Bobcats squared off with in-state rival Salisbury in game two. After falling behind 8-2, the Bobcats came all the way back and capped the game with a walk-off single by sophomore Kat Treff.
 
Game One
 
Against the nationally-ranked Captains, the Bobcats scored in the top of the first inning with a two-out double by first-year Amber Keene to plate junior Claire Hanlon. In the bottom half of the frame, CNU placed a runner on second with one out, but sophomore starting pitcher Taylor McCarty coaxed a groundout and fly out to end the inning.
 
Frostburg tallied another run in the top of the second inning with a two-out single from Hanlon to score senior Olivia Ford to take a 2-0 lead. McCarty sat down the Captains in order in the bottom of the second.
 
Singles from Keene and sophomore Sam Carver put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the third innings, but both were stranded. In the home half of the frame, the Captains plated their first run of the day on a two-out single to left.
 
After a CNU pitching change, the Bobcats were unable to put a runner on base for the rest of the game, going down in order in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Christopher Newport tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth with an unearned run.
 
CNU blasted three home runs in the game's final three innings, including a go-ahead three run home run in the fifth inning to break the 2-2 tie, and a pair of home runs in the sixth.
 
For the Bobcats, both Keene and Carver recorded a pair of hits, with Carver scoring a run and Keene notching an RBI. Hanlon posted one hit with a run and RBI.
 
Christopher Newport's Patty Maye Ohanian hit two home runs and drove in four on the day, and Captains pitcher Emily Weatherholtz tossed four scoreless and hitless innings in relief for the win.
 
Game Two
 
An early Bobcat miscue in the first inning allowed Salisbury to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
 
The Sea Gulls threatened again in the bottom of the second, placing a runner on third with two outs, but a leaping catch by Treff ended the inning without allowing a run.
 
Keene and junior Katelyn Mehrling led off the bottom of the second inning with back-to-back singles. After a groundout and a fielder's choice with Keene thrown out at the plate, first-year Erica Payne singled through the right side to tie the game at one. After a Salisbury error, Ford put the Bobcats ahead 2-1 with an infield single before an obstruction call ended the inning.
 
The Sea Gulls evened the game at two with a two-out single in the top of the third inning. In the top of the fourth, Salisbury had four straight players reach base safely to begin the inning to gain a 3-2 edge. With two outs, Salisbury posted back-to-back-to-back hits to plate another five runs to take an 8-2 lead.
 
Frostburg responded right away in the bottom of the fourth with a triple by McCarty, followed by walks to Carver and Payne to load the bases. Treff brought them all home with a bases-clearing triple down the left field line to trim the deficit to 8-5. Ford's groundout scored Treff to make the fourth a four-run inning for the Bobcats.
 
Salisbury placed runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth inning, but a leaping catch by Ford saved a pair of runs to hold the Sea Gulls off the scoreboard.
 
After a pair of walks to begin the bottom of the fifth, McCarty singled home Keene and Mehrling scored on a fielder's choice to tie the ballgame at eight. McCarty scampered home on a wild pitch to hand FSU a 9-8 lead.
 
Wieman retired Salisbury in order in the top of the sixth inning. Ford matched the CAC's single-season record for stolen bases with her 31^st of the season after reaching on an error to lead off the frame.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Salisbury tied the game with a two-out double.  
 
In the bottom of the seventh, McCarty reached base with a one-out single and advanced to second on a two-out walk by Payne. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Treff sent a 1-1 pitch past the third baseman extend the Bobcats' season.
 
Treff drove in four runs on the day, while Ford drove in a pair. McCarty posted three hits and scored twice. Carver scored three times, including the game-winning run. Wieman tossed the final three innings, giving up one unearned run on three hits.
 
The Bobcats advance to elimination Sunday with an opportunity to reach the CAC championship series. FSU will face second-seeded CNU tomorrow at 11:00 am and again at 1:00 pm if the Bobcats win game one.