CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Baseball team dropped their MEC Tournament opening contest 8-1 to West Virginia State on Wednesday night.
 
In a match-up of two of the top pitchers in the Mountain East this season, junior First Team All-MEC selection Pat Bauer faced off against MEC Pitcher of the Year Chris Morris, with both working a scoreless first with just a single allowed each. WVSU was the first to strike in the top of the second, opening up with back-to-back singles, a double, and a sac fly to plate a pair of runs. After a walk put runners at the corners, an error followed by another double put two more on the board for a 4-0 lead.
 
The Bobcats were sat down in order, then in the third freshman Jack Ray came on in relief of Bauer, working a 1-2-3 inning after the batter he walked with two outs was thrown out trying to steal. Junior Cy Probst led the bottom half off with a double into left, but was left stranded after a strikeout and back-to-back groundouts. WVSU used some small ball to tack on another run in the fourth, with an infield single, sac bunt, and liner into right making it 5-0
 
Seniors Ethan Kiple and Randy Steen each drew a walk in the bottom of the fourth, but neither could advance with a strikeout ending the frame. Ray tossed an efficient fifth without allowing a baserunner, then FSU threatened again in their at-bats. Probst led off with an infield single but was picked off, then freshman Jackson Schalick and junior Danny Estrada worked a pair of two-out singles before a pop up left them on.
 
After a scoreless sixth, the Yellow Jackets were patient at the plate in the seventh, working five walks in addition to a double that put three more runs up for an 8-0 advantage. In the top of the eighth, freshman Bryce Hendricks worked around a lead-off error with a pair of K's to leave the runner on third. Frostburg avoided being shut out in the bottom of the inning with their first run of the contest. Estrada drew a full count walk to lead things off, then junior Mikey Guy was hit by a pitch and MEC Freshman of the Year Ryan Bouma put a single into left to plate Estrada for an 8-1 score. Steen then reached on a fielder's choice and stole second to put two in scoring position, but yet another inning-ending strikeout put the threat away. Neither team generated anything at the plate in the ninth, as  WVSU came away with the seven-run win.
 
Probst was the lone Bobcat with multiple hits on the day, as Hendricks and freshman Ethan Grieb each tossed scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 36-13 on the year, while West Virginia State improves to 29-18. FSU will now face Wheeling in an elimination game on Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m., while the Yellow Jackets move on to face Charleston (WV) on Friday, May 8. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.