FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team traveled to Fairmont State for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader, in which the Bobcats would act as the home team as the contest was moved due to inclement weather. The teams split the series with Frostburg winning game one 8-4 and losing game two 8-9.
In game one, it would be freshman Jamie Roberts to pitch for the Bobcats, as the Falcons got on the scoreboard first in game one, scoring two runs in the top of the first, then added another run to make the score 3-0 midway through the third.
The Bobcat bats would finally get on the board in the bottom of the third inning, as freshman Kennedy Brumagin opened the inning with a walk to reach base. Freshman Laura Gilford laid down a bunt, reaching base and advancing the runner to second. Sophomore Sierra Sanderson reached base on a throwing error, which would also result in Gilford advancing to third and Brumagin crossing the plate as the first Frostburg run of the day. Senior Brianna Powell went on to hit a two-RBI double to center field that cleared the bases and tied the score up at 3-3. Powell would advance to third on a groundout by Roberts, then stole a run by crossing the plate when sophomore Katie Ernst flew out to second base as the fielder fell down making the catch. Freshman Jayla Hill cranked a home run over the center field fence to extend the Frostburg lead to 5-3 at the end of the third.
Senior Kennadie Batchelor opened the bottom of the fourth reaching base on an error at third base. Brumagin successfully laid down a bunt to reach base and advanced Batchelor to third. The Bobcats would load the bases as Gilford reached base after being hit by a pitch. Sanderson would fly out in foul territory to the second baseman, as Batchelor used her speed to score from third, making the score 6-3 in favor of Frostburg. Powell knocked in her second two-RBI double of the day, this time down the left field line to bring the score to 8-3 at the end of four innings.
Roberts shut down the Falcon offense for the final four innings, allowing just one run in the seventh and ending the first game of the afternoon with a final score of 8-4 Bobcats.
Roberts pitched all seven innings for Frostburg to earn her fifth win, striking out four Falcons and allowing only two walks. Powell led the offensive effort for the Bobcats going 2-4 at the plate with two doubles and four RBI.
In game two, sophomore Sydney Theobald would get the start for the Bobcats, as she got some early run support in the bottom of the second. Roberts led off the inning knocking a single through to center field, followed by a sacrifice bunt from freshman Samara Funk to advance Roberts to second. Hill reached base on a hard-hit single to shortstop, allowing Roberts to reach third. Ernst would come up big to give the Bobcats the early lead, pounding a two-RBI double deep into left center field as the teams headed into the third inning with a score of 2-0 Frostburg.
Fairmont State went on to take the lead in the top of the third by scoring five runs to make the score 5-2 midway through three. The Bobcats responded in the bottom half of the inning as Sanderson opened the bottom of the third with a lead-off single, then Powell would hit her third double of the day, this one to left-center field. Roberts knocked a two-RBI single through to center field, bringing the Bobcats within one run of the Falcons. Hill would also single to center field, bringing the tying run across the plate to go into the fourth at 5-5.
In the fourth, Fairmont would once again take the lead by scoring four runs to make the score 9-5. Freshman Katie Chapple entered to finish the pitching job for the Bobcats in the fourth, returning after a short injury layoff. Batchelor opened the fourth by singling through the middle, advancing to second on a sac bunt by Brumagin and eventually making it all the way to third. Gilford knocked a hit up the middle, allowing Batchelor to cross the plate to cut the Fairmont lead to three.
The Bobcats' final runs would come in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Roberts leading the inning off with a single to right field. Hill added another hit to her day, dropping a double into left-center field, then Ernst would ground out to second base, allowing Roberts to score and make the score 7-9 Fairmont. Batchelor added another single to her afternoon, this time driving Hill across the plate to bring the Bobcats within one, though the comeback effort would fall short with game two ending in a final score of 9-8 Fairmont.
Roberts had a stellar day at the plate in game two, going 4-4 with two RBI, as she now has hit safely in 17 straight gaes. Hill followed closely behind, going 3-4 at the plate with one RBI.
Wednesday afternoon's split lands the Bobcats at 21-14 on the season, while Fairmont is now 16-18. Frostburg will be back in action on Saturday, April 23 as they travel to play Wheeling in a doubleheader with games set to start at 12 PM. For more news on the Bobcats visit https://frostburgsports.com/
