FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team came up just short in their home doubleheader against MEC opponent Fairmont State, falling by scores of 3-2 and 9-7 on Wednesday afternoon.
In the opener, Fairmont State wasted no time getting on the board. With help from the Bobcats, back-to-back errors on the infield would see two runners on for the Falcons before Frostburg could record an out. Fairmont State senior Emily Riggs singled up the middle to FSU's starting pitcher Sydney Theobald, but a third infield error would allow the Falcons to score two runs on the play. Riggs would come around to score in the inning, tacking on another run to make it 3-0 early on. Theobald closed out the inning strong, knotting her first strikeout of the day.
Both teams stayed quiet in the next two innings, as Theobald only gave up one hit in the Falcons next two at-bats. Freshman Arden Miller recorded the Bobcats first hit of the day in the bottom of the third, but Frostburg left two stranded on base, leaving the score at 3-0 heading into the fourth inning. FSU was finally able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as sophomore Katie Ernst hit a leadoff single, reached second on a passed ball, and scored on an RBI single from sophomore Samara Funk. Frostburg kept that momentum going in their next at-bats in the bottom of the sixth, as sophomore Jamie Roberts brought the game to 3-2 after a leadoff homerun.
The Bobcats kept the score at 3-2 heading into their last chance at-bats. Funk recorded another single in the bottom of the seventh, but was left stranded on base as FSU couldn't put anything together, falling in the first game 3-2.
In the second half of the doubleheader, the scoring appeared early and often as Fairmont State charged onward straight away, tallying the games first five runs. Frostburg recorded their first runs of the game in the bottom of the third as junior Ellie Buckheit and freshman Gracie Nelson hit back-to-back singles to open the last half of the inning. Junior Sierra Sanderson then reached on a fielder's choice, as her and Nelson came around to score on a two-RBI double from senior Brianna Powell, to bring the game to 5-2.
The Falcons quickly got one back, tacking on another run in the top of the fourth. Roberts did what she does best, smacking another ball over the fence for her second homerun of the day, to make the score 6-3. Fairmont State kept their offense going, scoring two more run in the top of the fifth. The Bobcats rallied in the bottom half of the inning as Miller got in on the homerun action, ripping the ball over the fence to bring the game to 8-4. Sanderson followed with a single, and was brought around to score on another RBI double from Powell. Roberts continued her dominance on offense, capturing an RBI single that would bring Powell home to score. Roberts would then advance to third on two more Frostburg singles, as she would finally cross home plate on an RBI single from Buckheit, to bring the score to 8-7.
Fairmont State kept their scoring streak going, adding one more run to their lead in the top of the sixth. Powell recorded a single in the bottom of the sixth and sophomore Adriana Wimmer recorded a single in the bottom fo the seventh, but the Bobcats were unable to get anymore runs on the board, dropping the game with a final score of 9-7.
Roberts finished 4-for-6 on the day with two homeruns, three runs scored, and three RBI. Powell, Buckheit, and Miller all recorded three hits each and combined for a total of two runs and five RBI.
With the losses, Frostburg falls to 17-10 on the season, while Fairmont State improves to 17-13. The Bobcats are back on the field Saturday, April 1 to take on another MEC opponent, West Liberty, with the first game of the doubleheader set to begin at 1 PM. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.
