SALEM, Va. - The Frostburg State Softball team saw their season come to a close with a narrow 7-6 loss to West Liberty, having advanced after defeating West Virginia State 14-3 to start the day. 

Against the Yellow Jackets in game one, sophomore Sydney Theobald got the start and fired a perfect first inning, paving the way for the FSU offense to take command in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Laura Gilford led off with a single up the middle, then WVSU made an error as sophomore Sierra Sanderson laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Gilford to score. Junior Bri Powell knocked in a double to score Sanderson, then scored herself on an RBI single from freshman Jamie Roberts to lead 3-0. Senior Ava Gnibus drew a walk, then freshman Jayla Hill reached on another error, with another run scoring on the play. Senior Kennadie Batchelor kept the momentum going with a two-RBI double, followed by a walk from freshman Kennedy Brumagin, with both players then moving up a base after a wild pitch. Gilford came back up as the Bobcats batted around the order and laced a double to score both runs. Powell reached on a walk, then attempted to steal second but got caught in a rundown, as Gilford smartly scored before the Yellow Jackets could apply the tag on Powell, ending the inning with a 9-0 lead. 

After a scoreless second, WVSU used a pair of RBI singles and a Bobcat error to score three runs in the top of the third to get within 9-3. FSU responded in the bottom of the third, as Sanderson came up with a clutch two-out, two-RBI single to get the lead back to eight at 11-3. 

Theobald tossed a scoreless fourth, as Frostburg put the game beyond reach in the bottom of the fourth. Powell was hit by a pitch to start the inning, followed by another walk from Gnibus and freshman Adriana Wimmer was hit by another pitch to load the bases with two outs. Batchelor secured another big hit, driving a single to score all three runs to grow the lead to 14-3, as Theobald shut the door in the top of the fifth to win the game on mercy rule. 

Batchelor had a memorable day at the plate, going 3-3 with a career-high five RBI, as Gilford joined her with multiple hits and a pair of RBI, while also stealing a base that gave her the MEC single-season record for stolen bases. Theobald threw the full five innings, allowing six hits and just two earned runs to earn 12th win, besting last season's total by two. 

With the win, Frostburg improved to 29-17 on the year, the most wins in a season since the program record 33-win team of 2013, while WVSU ended their season at 22-25

Game two would be played for the right to move to the third day of the championships, as it pitted FSU against North Division Co-Champions West Liberty. The Bobcats started out similarly to game one, with Gilford reaching on a single and Sanderson reaching on a Hilltopper error that scored Gilford. Roberts ripped a single up the middle to score Sanderson, but WLU worked a pair of strikeouts to end the inning at 2-0. 

West Liberty got a run back in the bottom of the first, then after a scoreless Frostburg second, tied the game on a leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning. The Bobcats re-took the lead in the top of the third, with Powell scoring on a Roberts single after a leadoff double. WLU immediately responded, launching a three-run home run in the bottom half to take their first lead 5-3. 

FSU got a run back in the fourth with Sanderson slapping a two-out single into right field and stealing second, being brought home on an RBI single from Powell to get within a run. Once again, the Hilltoppers maintained the upper hand, scoring another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to keep the lead at 7-4. 

With the season on the line, Frostburg attempted a late comeback in the top of the sixth, starting with an infield single by Brumagin, who then moved to second on a sac bunt from Gilford. Sanderson came up with another RBI single, then stole second to bring the tying run to the plate. Powell was hit by another pitch to put two runners on, then as both attempted a double steal, the West Liberty catcher threw the ball away, allowing Sanderson to score and Powell to move to third with one out. As FSU gained momentum, the Hilltoppers pulled out all the stops and brought in their top starting pitcher Makenzie Amend, who worked a foul out and a strikeout to end the threat with the one-run lead. Amend stayed on in the top of the seventh, firing three strikeouts to end the game with a 7-6 West Liberty win.  

Gilford, Sanderson, Powell, Roberts, and Brumagin all recorded multi-hit games, with Sanderson, Powell, and Roberts getting each of the team's RBI. 

With the loss, Frostburg ends their season at 29-18, while West Liberty moves on to day three of the tournament with a record of 35-20-1.