ELKINS, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team took both games of their doubleheader against Davis & Elkins on the road Saturday afternoon, opening MEC play with victories of 7-4 and 7-6.
 
Game one began with the Bobcats working some two-out magic, as seniors Jamie Roberts and Ryann Darling each drew a walk, then junior Christina Sommerkamp singled up the middle to load the bases. Senior Ava Gnibus also laced a ball back where it came from to plate Roberts and give FSU an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the first, D&E quickly got a runner in scoring position on a one-out double, but Roberts, getting the start in the circle, worked a pair of pop-ups to end the inning in the lead. Frostburg grew the lead in the next frame, as back-to-back doubles from juniors Allyssa Albright and Hannah Binek scored a run, followed by a two-out knock by Roberts for a 3-0 advantage.
 
After Roberts held the Senators scoreless in the second, she was given more run support in the third, as Sommerkamp lined a single into left and Gnibus reached on an error, putting both runners in scoring position. Sophomore Arden Miller plated Sommerkamp on an RBI groundout, then Albright singled through the right side to score Gnibus as the Bobcats led 5-0.
 
Still dominant on the mound, Roberts set Davis & Elkins down in order, then helped her own cause with a solo shot for FSU's sixth run of the day. Both teams were scoreless for the next inning and a half, with Roberts then continued to show out with a lead-off homer in the sixth, pushing the score to 7-0.
 
D&E finally got to Roberts in the bottom half of the inning, using three straight singles and a three-run shot to score four runs before a strikeout looking ended the frame with Frostburg up three. The Senators walked three batters in the top half of the seventh, but recovered to not allow a run, hoping to keep the game going in the bottom of the inning. Roberts got two quick outs on a fly to left and a pop fly to herself, but gave up a base knock and hit a batter to bring the tying run to the plate, though she was able to get a fly out to center to end the game 7-4.
 
Binek started things offensively for Frostburg in game two, going for a triple to leadoff the game. Senior Brianna Munday was then walked, as Roberts reached base on a fielder's choice, as Binek was thrown out trying to score. After a walk to Sommerkamp, a strikeout threatened to end the at-bats without a run, but Gnibus came up clutch with a two-RBI knock to right that put FSU ahead 2-0.
 
Senior Sydney Theobald got the go from the circle in game two, giving up a run on an infield single, but getting a pair of grounders to end the inning and maintain a 2-1 lead.
 
Both teams recorded no hits in the second, with Theobald picking up her first strikeout, followed by more quiet offense in the third. Frostburg couldn't put together any offense in the fourth, then the Senators tied the game after an error, single, and RBI groundout in the bottom half.
 
Offense came alive in the fifth inning for both teams, with Binek drawing a walk, advancing to third on a single to right from Roberts, and coming home to score on a bases loaded walk from Theobald, allowing the Bobcats to take a 3-2 lead. D&E jumped right back in front in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on three hits, a walk, and a sac fly for a 4-3 game. Senior Katie Chapple came in to end the fifth, facing three batters for three outs, earning a strikeout while doing so.
 
FSU regained the lead in their at-bats of the sixth, with sophomore Arden Miller starting the inning off with a Little League home run, reaching on an error and coming all the way around to score as Davis & Elkins struggled to get the ball in from the outfield. Freshman Kylee Piconi then knocked her first career home run, giving the Bobcats a 5-4 edge. Chapple sat the Senators down in order in the bottom of the sixth, allowing Frostburg to hold their 5-4 advantage.
 
Frostburg carried their offensive momentum into the seventh, tacking on two more runs to their lead. Roberts reached first on a Senator error to start things off, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and came around to score on an RBI double by Darling. Darling then advanced on another sacrifice from the Bobcats before coming home on an RBI single to left from Miller, setting the Bobcat lead at 7-4 in D&E's last at-bats. The Senators were able to get two runs back on three hits in the bottom of the seventh, but Chapple stranded two on base to capture the 7-6 win for FSU in game two.
 
Roberts was a force on both sides of the plate throughout the day, going for five hits and five runs scored while driving in three RBI, earning the game one win with a complete game performance. Sommerkamp tallied three hits and three walks in her outing, while Gnibus added a trio of both hits and RBI in the sweep.
 
With the victories, Frostburg moves to 7-8 on the season, while Davis & Elkins goes to 11-8. The Bobcats have a quick turnaround as they travel to play MEC opponent West Virginia Wesleyan in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 17 with the first game set for 1 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.