ELKINS, W.VA. – Frostburg State baseball split its doubleheader on the road Sunday against Davis & Elkins. They took game one by a 5-3 final before dropping game two by a score of 4-3.
In game one, the Bobcats did not find the scoreboard until the final two innings. Down 1-0 entering the sixth inning, junior Bryce Jackson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A double by senior Ryan Roell advanced Jackson to third, and an RBI groundout from junior Andrew Smith brought Jackson across the plate to tie the game. Two batters later, senior Jared Mouton laced a triple to center field, bringing home Roell to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead. After a D&E pitching change, senior Mitch Fyffe rudely welcomed new pitcher Kade Kozak to the game by ripping an RBI double to left to make it 3-1 FSU.
D&E would answer in the bottom of the sixth, as a throwing error by first-year Justin Jimenez allowed a run to score to make it a 3-2 game.
In the seventh, Roell would give the Bobcats some breathing room, clubbing a two-run homer to give Frostburg a 5-2 advantage. D&E would bring one run across in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly, however first-year Nate Vermillion would slam the door shut and pick up his first save of the season, earning FSU the 5-3 win.
Junior Josh Colliflower got the start on the bump for the Bobcats in game one and he was electric. Colliflower went 5.1 innings, allowing just one base hit and striking out 10. He picked up the win to move his record to 2-0 on the season.
Frostburg would come out swinging to start game two. Senior Bret Fogle led off the game with a double and would advance to third after an errant throw. After a walk to junior Jack Maruskin, Jackson would ground out to second base, scoring Fogle to give FSU a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats would tack on another run in the second, as junior Josh Netterville doubled and was brought home by a single from junior Nick Benitez to make it 2-0.
The Senators were undeterred, scoring the next four runs unanswered. The first run came in the third inning, as a throwing error from Benitez at shortstop allowed Chase Degrood to score to make it a 2-1 game. In the fifth inning, Zachary Higgins stepped up with the bases loaded and hit into a fielder's choice. Two Senators came around to score on the play that gave D&E a 3-2 lead. After moving up to third on a wild pitch, Higgins would score on a single from John Arcaro to make it a 4-2 game.
Frostburg was able to get one run back in the sixth. Netterville singled with one out and proceeded to swipe second base. He would then be brought home by a double from sophomore Hayden McLaughlin to make it a one-run game. McLaughlin would be stranded there, however, as first-year Stafford Allison struck out and Fogle flied out to end the inning.
The Bobcats had the heart of their order up in the seventh inning down by just one run, however flyouts from Maruskin and Jackson and a strikeout from Roell would end the game.
Frostburg returns to the diamond on Saturday, March 27, as they open up their home schedule with a doubleheader against Charleston. First pitch is at 1 p.m. For more information, visit frostburgsports.com.
