CLARION, Pa. – The Frostburg State Softball team split their weekday doubleheader versus Clarion by scores of 4-6 and 11-3.
Things starts off strong for the Bobcats, as senior Jamie Roberts sent one over the fence with two outs in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead. Senior Sydney Theobald kept the Golden Eagle bats quiet in their half of the inning, but got into a bit of trouble in the second. A lead-off single followed by a pair of errors loaded the bases, but a grounder to third got the runner out trying to score, then another groundout to short ended the frame with FSU still in the lead. Looking into the third senior Ellie Buckheit earned a single, followed by a double from junior Hannah Binek which sent Buckheit across home plate 2-0. Nelson reached on a successful bunt, allowing Binek to advance to third, then on a passed ball, she swiftly ran home to go up 3-0.
Clarion answered back in the bottom of the third after hitting two singles, a double and a triple that combined to tie the score 3-3. CU played exceptional offense in defense in the fourth and fifth, as they hit FSU with three outs in back-to-back innings, then scored three runs off three hits for a 6-3 advantage. Frostburg was able to get another score on the board in the seventh; sophomore Ashlynn Routzahn was hit by a pitch, sending her to first, as junior Cristina Sommerkamp walked and Buckheit was also hit, advancing each runner. Binek hit a line drive single up the middle, sending Routzahn across home plate 6-4, but a grounder to third ended the frame with the Golden Eagles taking the victory.
Game two began with no action for either team from inning one to inning four, managing just four total hits between the teams. Roberts was dominant on the mound, striking out five and not allowing a single hit through the first four frames. The fifth inning kicked off the game's scoring, as FSU went up 4-0. Things started out with Binek, who singled to left field, followed by Nelson with a walk. With runners on first and second, senior Ryan Darling swung a double, earning two RBI and placing her at second. Senior Brianna Munday sent Darling home with a double to right field, then Sommerkamp singled and Munday ran home for the fourth run of the inning.
CU finally got to Roberts in the bottom of the fifth, with a two-out double breaking up the no hit bid, but she settled down to get the final out. Inning six featured some two-out magic, as singles from Nelson and Binek were followed by a Clarion error, with Roberts earning two RBI on a double that plated both runners and FSU moving to a 6-0 lead. The Golden Eagles got on the board after batters reached off on an error, a fielder's choice, a single and double, cutting the deficit in half 6-3.
In the seventh, Munday put herself at third after walking and running off two wild pitches. Walks for Sommerkamp and Theobald loaded the bases for the Bobcats, who then capitalized on an error by CU, allowing junior Allyssa Albright to reach first and Munday and Sommerkamp to score 8-3. Binek loaded the bases once again after a single to third base, then freshman Katie Healy put bat to ball with a long single, creating the three final runs for FSU 11-3. Roberts sat Clarion down without much fuss in the bottom of the seventh to take the split on the day, earning herself the win with just four hits allowed.
Binek recorded a whopping six hits across the two games, scoring four total runs, while Roberts had a team-high three RBI. Nelson tallied four hits and a pair of walks, while Sommerkamp was 3-for-3 in game two with a walk, RBI, and run scored.
With the conclusion of the doubleheader, Frostburg's overall record stands at 5-8 and Clarion's is now 5-11. FSU starts conference play on Saturday, March 16 as they travel to D&E to take on the Senators for a doubleheader starting at 12 pm. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.
