WHEELING, W. Va. - The Frostburg State Softball team completed their four-game season sweep of Wheeling with two road wins on Saturday afternoon by scores of 10-6 and 8-6.
The Bobcats gave sophomore Sydney Theobald some early run support in game one, using some small ball to take the lead in the first inning. Freshman Laura Gilford led off with a bunt single, then used her speed to make it all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Sierra Sanderson. Junior Brianna Powell lofted a ball to center field that was deep enough to score Gilford on a sac fly for a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals tied things in the bottom of the first on an RBI single, then took the lead in the third on another run-generating base hit to go up 2-1. With two outs in the top of the fourth, FSU took advantage of a Wheeling defensive mistake to start a rally and re-take the lead. Senior Ava Gnibus reached on an error at third base, then moved to second on an infield single from freshman Samara Funk. Theobald took matters into her own hands, slapping a single into left field to score Gnibus and tie the game at 2-2. Sophomore Brianna Munday pinch ran for Theobald, a decision that paid off as she reached on a fielder's choice off the bat of Gilford to load the bases. Sanderson drew a walk to take the lead, then a wild pitch allowed Munday to score for a two-run lead. Powell capped the rally with a two-RBI single to right that scored Gilford and Sanderson for a 6-2 Bobcat lead.
WU got a run back in the bottom half of the inning to get back within three, though Theobald limited the damage by stranding a runner at third with back-to-back groundouts to end the inning.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Frostburg got the bats going again in the top of the sixth with four more runs. Funk led off with a single to center field, followed by infield singles from Theobald and Gilford to load the bases with no outs. Sanderson reached on a fielder's choice with all runners being safe, increasing the lead to 7-3. The Cardinals finally got an out as Powell grounded into a fielder's choice with Theobald thrown out at home, though freshman Jamie Roberts responded by adding another big hit to her season, this one a two-RBI single to right for a six-run lead. A double steal then put Powell at third and Roberts at second, allowing sophomore Ryann Darling to drive home Powell on a sac fly to right for a 10-3 lead.
Wheeling staged a short rally in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing on a Frostburg error and getting three straight hits to bring the score to 10-6, but were then shut down by freshman reliever Katie Chapple to keep a four-run Bobcat lead. WU made Chapple work in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs and the tying run at the plate, but she stayed calm under pressure to work a fly-out to center to end the game in an FSU win.
Theobald earned the win in the circle and was also perfect at the plate, going 3-3 with an RBI. Funk, Roberts, and Gilford all had multi-hit games, with Powell leading the offense with three RBI.
Roberts took the start in game two and again was given an early lead by the Bobcat offense. Gilford drew a leadoff walk and stole second, then came all the way around to score on a Wheeling error off the bat of Sanderson, who reached second and then stole third. An infield single from Roberts plated Sanderson for a 2-0 Frostburg lead.
WU got a run back on a sac fly in the second, but FSU once more was able to respond in the next half inning. Back-to-back Cardinal errors allowed Roberts and sophomore Katie Ernst to get on base, as both were driven in on a power double from freshman Jayla Hill for a 4-1 lead. This time it would be Wheeling to answer, as they tied the game in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice groundout and two straight doubles.
Gilford continued to be a thorn in the Cardinals' side in the fourth, reaching on a one-out single and stealing second, eventually scoring on a single to center from Sanderson for a 5-4 lead. Roberts held the WU offense in check in the bottom of the fourth, paving the way for a few insurance runs in the fifth. Hill drew a one-out walk and moved to second after a single by Darling. Gnibus roped a single into left to score Hill, then Funk drove home Darling on a single to right. Gilford again reached on an infield single, allowing Funk to score for an 8-4 lead.
Wheeling again tried to stage a late comeback, getting a run back in the sixth and putting pressure on Roberts in the seventh. After back-to-back fly-outs, the Cardinals strung together three straight hits that plated a run to get within two. The game ended after the third hit on an unusual play, as the throw home came in from center field and was cut off by Roberts, who smartly recognized the runner was caught between first and second, eventually getting the out to end the contest at 8-6.
Gilford was perfect at the plate in the game, going 4-4 and drawing a walk, while scoring two runs and getting an RBI. Roberts, Ernst, and Gnibus all had multi-hit games, as Roberts pushed her outstanding hitting streak to 19 games to add to her complete-game win on the mound.
With the sweep, Frostburg improves to 23-14, while Wheeling falls to 10-29. FSU returns to action tomorrow, April 24 as they continue their weekend road trip at West Liberty, with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.
