FROSTBURG, Md. - The Frostburg State Softball team swept their opening MEC doubleheader by defeating Davis & Elkins by scores of 9-1 and 4-2 on Monday afternoon.
Frostburg came out in game one playing aggressive, getting three quick outs on defense and getting the bat goings right away on offense. The top of the lineup for FSU consisting of sophomore Laura Gilford, junior Sierra Sanderson, and senior Brianna Powell were all credited with singles as they helped set the momentum for the Bobcats offense early on. Gilford scored on Powell's RBI single, as Sanderson scored on a groundout to second by sophomore Jamie Roberts. Powell then scored on a two-RBI double from sophomore Mackenzie Baker, who would then advance to third on the throw, making the score 4-0. Sophomore Adriana Wimmer got in on the RBI action as she hit a deep sacrifice fly to left field to score Baker. In the next at bat, sophomore Samara Funk walked, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from sophomore Cristina Sommerkamp. With the top of the line up coming up for the second time in the inning, Gilford recorded her second hit of the game, allowing Sommerkamp to cross the plate for a 7-0 Frostburg lead after one.
Sophomore Sydney Theobald threw another fantastic inning for FSU, keeping the Senators scoreless. Frostburg tacked on one more run in the bottom of the second as Powell reached on an error, was sent to third on a single from Roberts, and scored on another Davis & Elkins error. Both teams stayed quite and scoreless in the third, until D&E was able to get one run on the board in the top of the fourth to make the score 8-1.
The Bobcats got that one run back in their next at-bats, as freshman Ashlynn Routzahn singled and scored on another Senator error. Heading into the top of the fifth inning with a 9-1 lead, Frostburg maintained D&E in their last chance at-bats, getting the 9-1 victory in game one.
Both teams started off slow in the second game as they were both were held scoreless over the first two innings. FSU started to get going in the third, as Sommerkamp drew a walk to open the inning, allowing freshman Gracie Nelson to come in and pinch run. Gilford then singled, advancing Nelson, as both of them would score on a two-RBI single from Roberts.
Roberts continued to pitch a phenomenal game, recording two strikeouts in the fourth. Frostburg added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Gilford singled again, advanced to third on a groundout by Sanderson, and scored on single to right field by Roberts to bring the score to 3-0. Roberts faced three batters for three quick outs in the top of the sixth to still keep the Senators scoreless.
A trio of pinch hitters would keep things going for the Bobcats on offense in the top of the sixth, as junior Ryann Darling drew a walk, advanced to second on a single from freshman Ally Meyers, stole third, and scored on yet another single from Gilford to make the score 4-0. With one more at-bat in the top of the seventh, D&E fought back scoring two runs with two outs, but Roberts sealed the deal with a strikeout, allowing Frostburg to capture the 4-2 victory in game two.
Gilford led the way for FSU finishing 6-for-7 on the day, along with three runs and two RBI. Roberts finished 3-for-5 with four RBI, while eight other Bobcats recorded a hit. Theobald and Roberts were each credited with a win, combining for 10 strikeouts and only giving up seven hits and three runs in the doubleheader.
With the Monday sweep, Frostburg moves to 13-4 on the year while Davis & Elkins drops to 7-15. The Bobcats will have a quick turn around as they host West Virginia Wesleyan Tuesday, March 21 for another MEC doubleheader beginning at 1 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com
