INSTITUTE, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team split their road doubleheader against West Virginia State, dropping the first game 7-5, but taking the second 7-4 on Saturday afternoon.
In game one, senior Brianna Powell went for a solo home run over the left field fence to give Frostburg the early 1-0 lead in their first at-bats. In the bottom of the first, WVSU fired right back, scoring their first run of the game as well, tying the game at one apiece heading into the second. Sophomore Alyssa Albright opened the second inning with a single to right field, followed by another single from sophomore Mackenzie Baker. Junior Katie Ernst reached on a fielder's choice, with freshman Gracie Nelson coming in to pinch run for Albright. Ernst and Nelson would proceed to come around and score on two pass balls by the Yellow Jackets, for a 3-1 lead.
WVSU would score four runs in the bottom of the fourth, to take their first lead of the game. Albright and Baker recorded back-to-back singles in their next at-bats to open the fourth, with Ernst also knocking a single, as freshman Arden Miller was credited with the RBI single, bringing the game to 5-4. Frostburg kept things going in the fifth, as Powell hit a leadoff double to left field, and would score on an RBI single from sophomore Jamie Roberts, tying the game at five.
The Yellow Jackets quickly responded, scoring two runs in the fifth to take a 7-5 lead. With two more at-bats, FSU was unable to get anything going, falling in the first game with a score of 7-5.
Miller opened game two with a double to right center, with junior Sierra Sanderson singling on a bunt to advance Miller to second. Powell, continuing her hot bat from game one, knocked an RBI single to right, for another early 1-0 Bobcat lead. Albright, also continuing her hot bat from game one, ripped another RBI single, this time to left field, to allow Frostburg to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
Roberts on the mound in game two, kept WVSU scoreless, allowing FSU to tack on another lead in the third, with Powell opening the inning with a single to left field, followed by a left single from Roberts, with Albright then being credited with an RBI double. The Bobcats continued their offensive momentum in the fourth, adding another run to their lead, with an RBI single from Sanderson. Sanderson then came around to score after Powell reached on a fielder's choice, and Roberts reached on an error. To start the fifth, once again, Frostburg crossed the plate in an inning, as Baker hit a leadoff single, was sent around the bases after two walks, and scored on a fielding error by the Yellow Jackets, allowing the Bobcats to take a 6-0 lead.
With Roberts only giving up one hit through the first five innings, WVSU found a way to get runs on the board, bringing the game to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Ally Myers led off the top of the seventh with a double down the left field line, with junior Brianna Munday coming into pinch run. Munday advanced to third on a wild pinch, and proceeded to come home to score on a RBI single from Miller. With a 7-4 game, Roberts continued her success on the mound, only giving up one hit in the bottom of the seventh, allowing FSU to take the 7-4 win in game two.
Powell, Albright, and Baker led the way on offense for the Bobcats each tallying five hits, and combining for six runs and four RBI. Roberts knotted her twelfth win of the season, pitching a complete game and giving up four runs, on four hits, and striking out three.
With the split, Frostburg moves to 31-18 on the season, while WVSU falls to 16-29. The Bobcats will have a quick turnaround as they are set to face Charleston (WV) on Sunday, April 30 for a doubleheader with the first game set for 2 PM. For more information, please visit http://frostburgsports.com.
