FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team secured a key Mountain East Conference sweep with a pair of wins over Charleston (W.V.), winning by scores of 9-8 and 5-2.
 
In game one, the Golden Eagles started out on the front foot, scoring a run in the first, then using a solo home run and a pair of singles to plate three runs in the second for an early 4-0 lead.
 
Frostburg responded in the bottom of the second, as freshman Jamie Roberts reached on an infield single and moved to third on a sacrifice from senior Ava Gnibus. Freshman Jayla Hill came up clutch with a single through the right side to score Roberts and put the Bobcats on the board.
 
Charleston struck back in the fourth, scoring another pair of runs to get to a 6-1 lead, but FSU was able to answer once more in the bottom of the inning. Junior Bri Powell and Roberts led off the inning with back-to-back singles, then Gnibus was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases with no outs. Hill hit a ball to the shortstop, who tried to come home to secure an out but threw the ball past the catcher, allowing two runs to score. After two straight outs, sophomore starting pitcher Sydney Theobald helped her own cause with an RBI single, then freshman Laura Gilford reached on a bunt single that scored Hill to bring Frostburg within a run at 6-5.
 
Theobald worked a scoreless top of the fifth, paving the way for the offense to continue its momentum. Powell reached on an error and was able to move to second, eventually coming around to score on an RBI single by Roberts. With one out, Hill was hit by a pitch, as Roberts scored from second in the next at-bat on a single from sophomore Katie Ernst to take the lead 7-6. A wild pitch with two outs allowed Hill to score, then Theobald advanced Ernst to third on a single and Gilford again came up clutch with an RBI single to take a 9-6 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles didn't go away quietly, as they got a run back in the sixth and threatened to tie the game in the ninth. An error allowed the leadoff batter to get to second, then a double quickly drove in Charleston's eighth run that also put a runner on third with no outs. Freshman Katie Chapple came on in relief to attempt to save the game and was immediately helped out by her defense, as Gilford caught a pop fly in right and fired a strike to home to get the runner and preserve the lead. A two-out double kept the game alive, but Chapple was able to get a groundout to Powell to end with a tense final score of 9-8.
 
Roberts was perfect at the plate with a 4-4 game and an RBI, with Gilford and Theobald both enjoying multi-hit games and driving in three combined RBI. Theobald earned her tenth win of the year with a pair of strikeouts and just one walk, while Chapple worked her third save.
 
In game two, it was Frostburg's turn to take the early lead, as Gilford reached on a high throw off a bunt attempt and stole second, eventually moving to third on a sacrifice groundout by Gnibus. Powell was able to drive a ball deep enough into left field to score Gilford on a sac fly for a 1-0 lead.
 
Roberts took the ball in the circle for game two and was brilliant through five innings of scoreless ball, being helped out by some fine defense and the offense scoring some insurance runs. The Bobcats padded the lead in the third, with senior Kennadie Batchelor reaching on a single, then moving to third after Gilford reached on another error and stole yet another base. Powell knocked through a single to score Batchelor and stole second herself to put runners at second and third. A bouncing groundout by Roberts allowed Gilford to score, putting FSU ahead 3-0.
 
In the fourth, Frostburg took advantage of some more Golden Eagle errors to further the lead, beginning with a single by Ernst and a sacrifice from freshman Mackenzie Baker to move sophomore pinch-runner Brianna Munday to second. Sophomore Ryann Darling drew a walk, then Batchelor hit another single to load the bases. Gilford hit an RBI single on which two runs were able to score after a throwing error to put the Bobcats up 5-0.
 
Charleston finally got to Roberts in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs and hitting a single to score a run, but the righty stood firm and worked a flyout to Hill to end the threat with a four-run lead.
 
Roberts began the seventh needing just three outs to secure the win, as it looked like she would get through easily after two quick outs. The Golden Eagles didn't back down, however, using a solo home run, a double, and a walk to put the tying run at the plate. Once more, Roberts dug deep and worked a flyout to center field to secure the victory and the sweep 5-2.
 
Batchelor had a 3-3 game at the plate, with Powell, Roberts, and Gilford all providing the RBI. Gilford also moved into second place all-time for stolen bases in a single season, as she now has 29, surpassing Powell's 28 from last season and sitting two off of former FSU standout Olivia Ford's mark of 31. Roberts got the complete-game win for her eighth of the year, allowing just the two runs on seven hits and striking out four.
 
With the sweep, Frostburg improves to 26-15 on the year, as the 26 wins are the most for the team since 2016, while UCWV falls to 26-20. The Bobcats return to action at home tomorrow, April 30 for another MEC doubleheader against West Virginia State, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. For information and updates stay tuned at frostburgsports.com.