CHOWAN, N.C. – The Frostburg State Softball team used a late offensive surge to power past New Haven 18-3 Saturday morning.
FSU got on the board first as sophomore Laura Gilford reached first base on a bunt single and stole second. Sophomore Jamie Roberts then singled up the middle to score Gilford and put the Bobcats up 1-0 in the first inning. The Chargers would respond right back, scoring three runs of their own after a pair of Bobcat errors to go up 3-1.
Both teams would go hitless and scoreless in the second inning before Frostburg would take control of the game, scoring runs in every inning to follow. Freshman Ashlynn Routzahn homered to center in the third, followed by a sophomore Samara Funk homer in the fourth. Senior Bri Powell legged out a one-out infield single in the top of the fifth, then stole second and eventually reached home after a throwing error by the UNH catcher to give FSU the lead. The Bobcats proceeded to load the bases with two outs, where junior Brianna Munday had a great at-bat to draw a walk and bring home a run for a 5-3 lead.
In the sixth inning, FSU would score five runs on five hits, including a bases-clearing double down the left field line by Roberts that put the Bobcats up 8-3. Routzahn would hit her second homer of the day, again to dead center, to give Frostburg two more runs in the inning and a commanding 10-3 advantage.
The Bobcats kept momentum on offense in the top of the seventh, adding eight more runs on six hits. Gilford would score the first run on a fielding error by the Chargers, followed by junior Ryann Darling hitting another homer, this one a three-run shot, then finally Frostburg's fifth home run of the day by freshman Ally Myers. With a 15-3 lead, sophomore Hanna Binek doubled to right center, followed by a two-RBI single by freshman Gracie Nelson. Gilford would then hit another single to make the final score of the day 18-3 in favor of FSU.
12 Bobcats would get hits on the day as Gilford and Routzahn both went 3-for-4, with Gilford finishing with three runs and Routzahn finishing with two home runs. Roberts batted in four runs while Darling and Routzahn each drove in three. Junior Sydney Theobald pitched a dominant complete game, giving up only one hit while all three Charger runs were unearned. She struck out six batters while capturing her second win of the season.
Due to weather in the area, the weekend schedule has changed, as Frostburg will be back in action tomorrow, February 26 for a double-header as they now face Bowie State at 12 PM and Chowan in the game after. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.
