FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball hosted the Notre Dame (Ohio) Falcons for a home doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon, sweeping a pair of thrilling games 13-12 and 6-5.

In game one, freshman Jamie Roberts would be on the mound for Frostburg, as Notre Dame struck early, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. FSU responded quickly in the bottom of the first, as freshman Laura Gilford led off for the Bobcats, drawing a walk. Freshman Adriana Wimmer would reach base on a fielder's choice, advancing Gilford on an error. Freshman Jayla Hill and senior Brianna Powell both knocked in back-to-back RBI singles, getting the Bobcats on the board with two runs. Roberts went ahead to drive in two more runs with a two-RBI single, scoring both Hill and Powell to tie things going into the second 4-4.

Both teams went scoreless until the fourth, when Notre Dame added two more runs off of a two-run home run to lead 6-4. Again, FSU answered, as senior Kennadie Batchelor would get on base after laying down a bunt. Sophomore Sierra Sanderson tacked on a single, advancing Batchelor to second. The Bobcats would load the bases after Gilford reached on a walk, and once again it would be Hill with a two-RBI single, driving two Bobcats across home plate to knot the score at 6-6 heading into the fifth inning.

In the top of the fifth, the Falcons would score an additional four runs, making the score 10-6 going into the bottom of the inning. Once more, Frostburg would not lie down, with freshman Ryann Darling opening with a leadoff walk. Sanderson reached base with two outs on a Notre Dame error, putting runners on first and third for Frostburg. Gilford would show off her power, cranking a three-run homer and bringing the Bobcats within one run of the Falcons at 10-9. In the sixth, freshman Samara Funk entered the game, earning a walk and proceeding to steal second. Darling tapped in a single, driving in the tying run for the Bobcats, going into the final inning tied 10-10. 

In the top of the seventh, Notre Dame took the lead again, adding two runs and bringing the score to 12-10. The Bobcats would have one final chance to respond in the bottom of the seventh inning. Batchelor opened the inning by knocking a single through the infield into left field. Gilford would continue her fine day at the plate, doubling and scoring Batchelor. Gilford would then showcase her speed, stealing third and going on to score on a passed ball with a close play at the plate. Sophomore Katie Ernst reached base on an error, then Funk pulled through, advancing the runner to second and reaching base on a nicely-hit single. It would be Roberts to play the hero, hitting a walk-off single to allow the game-winning run to cross the plate and cap a memorable game with a 13-12 Bobcat win.

Gilford, Roberts, and Hill were stellar at the plate, combining for six hits, four runs scored, and 10 of the 12 RBI. Roberts pitched the full seven innings, tallying three strikeouts and giving up only two walks as she earned herself her second straight win with the walk-off hit, improving to 3-1 on the year.

In game two, it would be Sophomore Sydney Theobald to pitch for the Bobcats, as the beginning of the game went opposite the first, with both teams struggling to get the bats going through the first two innings. It would be the Bobcats to strike first in the bottom of the third, as Funk got ahold of a pitch, tripling and going on to score the lone run of the inning on an error for a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons went on to answer in the top of the fourth with a run of their own, tying the score up at 1-1 midway through four. In the bottom of the inning, Sanderson would win a battle at the plate, earning a two-out walk and going on to steal second. Once again it would be Gilford with a big hit, adding an RBI single to her performance and again giving Frostburg a one-run lead after four.

Frostburg opened the bottom of the fifth by loading the bases on a walk from Batchelor, a single from Powell, and an error off the bat of Roberts, allowing Ernst to capitalize on her opportunity at the plate, hitting a two-RBI single to extend the Frostburg lead to 4-2. Freshman pinch-runner Mackenzie Baker replaced Roberts and went on to cross the plate on a pinch-hit sac fly from Hill to bring the score to 5-2 FSU after five.

Notre Dame responded in the sixth, scoring three runs of their own, making the score 5-4 Bobcats, then hit a two-out home run in the seventh to stay alive and tie the game at 5-5.

Frostburg would once again enter the seventh with the chance to walk off, as Roberts would get the bats going in a final effort, reaching base on a single. Sophomore Ellie Buckheit entered the game as a pinch-runner to put speed on the basepaths. Senior Ava Gnibus reached first on an error, as Buckheit would have been thrown out at second if not for a dropped ball at the bag. Ernst stepped up to knock in her third single of the game and driving in the walk-off run for the Bobcats at another close play at the plate. Buckheit looked to be thrown out after a rocket throw from center field, but the Falcon catcher dropped the ball after the tag, resulting in a safe call and a 6-5 Frostburg victory.

Ernst and Batchelor both reached base in each of their at-bats, going a combined 5-5 with three walks to go with Ernst's three RBI. Theobald would earn the win, tallying four strikeouts and allowing only two walks, improving to 7-4 on the season.

Tuesday's sweep lands the Bobcats at 19-10 on the season, while NDC falls to 12-20. Frostburg will be back in action on Friday, April 15 as they travel to play Concord in a doubleheader set to start at 2 p.m. For more news on the Bobcats visit https://frostburgsports.com/