SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Frostburg State Softball team split their doubleheader against Shippensburg on Wednesday afternoon, falling 13-10 in the first game and getting the 7-3 victory in the second.
Frostburg found themselves down early in game one as the Raiders put up five runs in the bottom of the first inning, jumping out to an early 5-0. The Bobcats responded in the top of the second inning as sophomore Laura Gilford singled to first, driving in freshman Ashlynn Routzhan, who reached on a walk, and sophomore Adriana Wimmer, who reached on a bunt single. Junior Sierra Sanderson added a second single for the Bobcats to drive a third run across the plate, as FSU brought the game to a score of 5-3 heading into the bottom of the second.
The Raiders added four more runs in the bottom of the inning, bringing the score to 9-3. The Frostburg bats came alive in the top of the third, as senior Brianna Powell started off the inning with a single up the middle, proceeded to steal second, and scored on an RBI single to left field by Routzhan. The Bobcats kept their offensive momentum going as they loaded the bases, soon to be cleared from an RBI double by junior Briana Munday, to bring the score to 9-7. FSU wasn't done yet, as Gilford added another single to bring Munday across the plate, followed by an RBI double to right field by Sanderson to tie the game at nine.
Shippensburg responded right back in the bottom of the third, bringing four runs across the plate to regain the lead. FSU got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth off a homer over the left field fence by Routzhan to make the game 13-10. Both teams slowed down their powerhouse offense, allowing the game to end in a 13-10 final, in favor of the Raiders.
In game two, Frostburg got their offense started first as Gilford hit a leadoff single to left center and scored on an RBI single from sophomore Jamie Roberts. Roberts got the start in the circle for the Bobcats, keeping the Raiders hitless until the third inning. The Bobcats added to their lead in the fourth as Roberts opened with a single to right field, and scored on an RBI double to left field from Routzhan. Shippensburg found their rhythm in their at-bats in the fourth, scoring their first two runs of the game to bring the game to 3-2.
The top of the lineup got things going on offense for the Bobcats in the top of the fifth, as Gilford drew a walk, advanced to second on sacrifice bunt from Sanderson, and scored on an RBI double from Powell. Roberts kept things going, knocking another single, this time up the middle, to score Powell for a 5-2 Frostburg lead. The Raiders got one run back in the bottom of the sixth before FSU added two more runs to their lead in the top of the seventh as Sanderson reached base on an error, and scored on a bomb over the left field fence by Powell. Roberts continued her success on the mound, giving up one hit and zero runs in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 7-3 victory.
Roberts led the way for the Bobcats, both on offense and defense, going 5-for-7 on the day with two RBI, and a win and complete game from the circle. Powell and Sanderson each added four hits and combined for a total of five RBI and four runs. Gilford finished with three runs, three RBI, and three runs as Routzan was credited for three hits, three RBI, and two runs.
With the split, Frostburg moves to 11-4 on the season while Shippensburg goes to 7-6. The Bobcats will play their first home game of the season on Saturday, March 18 as they host Davis & Elkins for a MEC doubleheader with the first game set for 12 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.
