ELKINS, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Baseball team split with Davis & Elkins during Monday's MEC doubleheader, capturing the win in game one with a final score of 5-2, but falling in the second 3-1.
The action in game one didn't start until the second inning as sophomore Christian Shertzer reached first off of an error by D&E, stole second, and was sent home with ease on a two-run shot by sophomore Randy Steen for a 2-0 Frostburg lead. Sophomore Danny Estrada put FSU up 3-0 after he singled and was sent around to score on singles from sophomore Mikey Guy and senior Trevor Jones, with Jones being credited with the RBI. The Senators got one back in their at-bats of the second, to bring the game to 3-1 heading into the third.
The next time either team crossed home plate was not until the fifth inning when junior Ethan Kiple doubled to left field and was brought home on an RBI single from sophomore Cy Probst to make the score 4-1. Probst would then steal second and score a run of his own to tally on another run to FSU's lead. Davis & Elkins scored another run in the bottom of the sixth, to cut FSU's lead to three. The Bobcats gave up only one hit in the Senators last at-bat, allowing them to secure the 5-2 victory in game one.
In game two, Frostburg started off strong, scoring the first run of the game in the first inning as Estrada drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice fly, and scored on another RBI single on the day from Jones, for an early 1-0 FSU lead. Senior Jack Maruskin got the start on the mound for the Bobcats, seeing three batters for three quick outs in the Senators first at-bats. Maruskin kept D&E scoreless until the third, as the game was tied at one apiece heading into the fourth.
Davis & Elkins was able to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth, as they recorded their first hits of the day off senior Ben Vok, to go ahead 2-1. FSU stayed quiet in the top of the sixth recording two hits, but leaving two on base. The Senators tallied on one more run in their at-bats of the sixth, jumping out to a 3-1 lead, leaving one more at-bat for the Bobcats. Estrada and senior AJ Campbell were able to reach base in the top of the seventh, but were left stranded, as Frostburg dropped the second game with a final score of 3-1.
Kiple led the way for FSU on offense, going 4-for-6 on the day and scoring one run. Estrada, Guy, Jones, Probst, and Steen each recorded a pair of hits, combining for a total of four runs and five RBI. Freshman Joe Pippin was credited with the win in game one, coming into pitch four innings, giving up three hits, one run, and fanning three.
With the series split, Frostburg moves to 15-12 on the season, while Davis & Elkins falls to 5-20. The Bobcats are back in action on Friday, April 7 as they travel to face West Liberty for a doubleheader set to begin at 1 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.
