FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team hosted West Virginia State for a home double header on senior day on Saturday afternoon, winning game one 6-4 and losing game two 6-12.

Seniors Kennadie Batchelor and Ava Gnibus were both honored at the game as they finish out their stellar Bobcat careers. 

In game one, WVSU would strike first, scoring an early run in the top of the second, followed by another run in the top of the third to make the score 2-0, as the Yellow Jacket pitching was able to keep the FSU offense quiet through the first three innings.

Frostburg knocked the game wide open in the fourth, with Batchelor earning a leadoff walk, followed by a double from freshman Jamie Roberts into the gap of left field, advancing Batchelor to third. Gnibus came up clutch on her senior day with a two-RBI double to tie the game up at 2-2. Freshman Jayla Hill would add her second hit of the day, this time a triple down the right field line, allowing Gnibus to cross home plate to take the lead. Sophomore Katie Ernst kept the hitting going by tapping in an RBI single, bringing the score to 4-2 Bobcats. Sophomore Brianna Munday reached base on a single to right field, then freshman Laura Gilford split the infield with an RBI single to left field. Gilford stole second on the next at-bat, and an errant throw allowed Munday to score to finish off the innning with FSU in the lead 6-2.

WVSU answered in the top of the fifth with two runs of their own on a pair of RBI singles to cut the Frostburg lead to 6-4, though their comeback fell short as sophomore starter Sydney Theobald tossed scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh to earn the complete-game win. 

Ernst had a 2-2 game at the plate while driving in a run, joined in the RBI column by Gilford, Gnibus, and Hill. 

In game two, the Yellow Jackets again got the early lead with four runs in the top of the first. The Bobcats got a run back, as Gilford led off with a bunt, then stole both second and third, with the second steal earning her the program record for most steals single season with 32, surpassing former standout Olivia Ford's mark of 31. Roberts knocked in a single to bring Gilford across the plate, ending the first with a 4-1 Yellow Jacket lead.

In the top of the third, Gilford again provided a spark, drilling a ball over the left-center field fence to bring FSU within 4-2. .

The Yellow Jackets responded with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, making the score 8-2 midway through five. In the bottom of the fifth, Gilford once again reached base on a single to the outfield, then Powell reached base after being hit by a pitch. With two runners on, Roberts would once again come through with her second double of the day, this time grabbing a pair of RBI to bring the score to 8-4.

WVSU continued to keep their bats hot with four runs in the seventh, taking a commanding 12-4 lead going into the final half inning. In the seventh, it would be the two Bobcat seniors fighting in the final inning, with Batchelor opening the inning by knocking a single into center field. Gnibus would keep things alive with a two-out single into right field and advancing Batchelor to second. Hill added a third single to right field, driving Batchelor across the plate. Ernst would look to keep the rally going with another single to center field that scored Gnibus, bringing the score to 12-6. The Bobcat rally would fall short with a groundout to third, leaving the final score of game two at 12-6 WVSU.

Gilford, Roberts, Hill, and Ernst all recorded multi-hit games and each drove in a run, led by Roberts' three RBI. 

With Saturday afternoons split, Frostburg ends their regular season at 27-16, while the Yellow Jackets are now 21-23. FSU now awaits their seeding for the Mountain East Tournament, as they sit a half game ahead of West Liberty in the North Division, having played one more game. The tournament will be held in Salem, Va. from Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8, as information and updates will be posted at https://frostburgsports.com/