CRESAPTOWN, Md. – The Frostburg State Baseball team split its doubleheader against Concord in their opening MEC match-up, falling 11-3 and winning 6-2 on Saturday at Allegany College of Maryland.

In what was supposed to be FSU's home opener, due to weather conditions earlier in the week, the weekend series had to moved from Bob Wells Fields to Steve Bazarnic Field. The Bobcats sent sophomore Zach Dodson to the mound to start game one, with the right-hander breezing through a scoreless top of the first despite a walk and error. Freshman Drew Jourdan led things off for FSU with a hit by pitch before advancing to second on a balk, then sophomore Manny Hall beat out an infield single to put runners on first and third. Stepping up to the plate, junior Jackson Schalick hit a shallow fly ball to right, scoring Jourdan from third to give Frostburg an early 1-0 lead. 

In the second inning, CU used some patient hitting to load the bases with a pair of walks and an infield single. A third walk followed before a bases-clearing double put the Mountain Lions up 4-1, as a pick-off and pop up limited any further damage. Junior Brian Scott led off the bottom of the second with an infield hit, moving into scoring position on an error, however a groundout, strikeout, and pop out ended the frame. Dodson worked out of a hit by pitch and walk in the third, getting a pair of strikeouts either side of fielding his position. The only action in the bottom half would be Schalick lining a single into right, as Concord added a run on a pair of hit batters and an RBI single.

FSU was able to get a run back in their at-bats, as Scott singled up the middle, followed by a pair of two-out singles from sophomore Zane Bohn and junior Johnny Antonelli, bringing Scott across for a 5-2 score. To start out the top of the fifth, junior Evan Biddle toed the rubber, getting out of a single and walk with a 6-4-3 double play to keep it a three-run game. Frostburg went quietly in the bottom half, as Mountain Lions offense came back up in the sixth. Effectively ending any hopes of a Bobcat comeback, the visitors led off with a homer, followed by a walk, three singles, and a triple to push ahead 10-2. CU tacked another run on in the seventh, with an error, walk, and pair of knocks plating their 11th run. FSU put a couple runners on in the bottom of the seventh, with junior Logan Helser shooting one to right field followed by freshman Landon Marple singling to the pitcher, however neither came in to score for the 11-2 final. 

Scott had two hits in the game, as Schalick and Antonelli each recorded an RBI.

Looking to rebound in game two, junior John Smith got the start, setting down the first three batters he saw. FSU looked to get another early lead as Jourdan reached on an error and Scott walked, but a strikeout and double play swiftly ended the frame. In the top of the second, the Mountain Lions struck first after an error and a stolen base put a man on second, who then scored on a double for a 1-0 lead. The Bobcats looked to respond in the bottom half, as Helser singled, followed by a junior Ryan Bouma double and Hall getting plunked, putting men on every base. In similar fashion to the first, strikeout and a flyout would keep any runs from scoring with Concord still leading. Smith was able to work an efficient third despite a hit by pitch, as Frostburg finally took advantage of their runners on base. Scott began the bottom half with a walk before Schalick singled, to drive the former from first to third. Stepping in to the box, senior Jake Holler poked one out to right field for a sac fly that scored Scott, tying the game at one apiece. 

Both sides went 1-2-3 in the fourth, with Concord earning a pair of walks and a hit batter to load the bases, but Smith was able to work his way out of it with a fly out to left. Scott led things off for FSU in the fifth with a single to center before Schalick launched one into the wind, carrying the ball beyond the right field fence for a two-run homer. Just two batters later, Helser belted one of his own over center, providing some pop and giving the Bobcats a 4-1 lead.

CU led the sixth off with a double, then after striking out the next batter looking, Smith was replaced by junior Joey Serafin, who fielded a comebacker as the runner moved to third. A passed ball allowed the Mountain Lions to score, as Serafin worked his first strikeout to end the inning. Looking to add more in the bottom half, Hall led off with a walk before Jourdan and Scott both were hit bt pitches, loading the bases. Following a pitching change, Shalick lofted a ball high to right field, scoring Hall on a sac fly, while Jourdan came in right after on a wild pitch to make it a 6-2 game. Serafin came back out in the seventh to get the last three outs, while Concord looked to stay alive on a single and hit by pitch either side of a swinging strike. Aided by his defense, Serafin worked groundball to short, with FSU turning a clean 6-4-3 double play to secure the 6-2 victory. 

Shalick and Helser each recorded two hits, as the latter also had three RBIs, while Scott drew two walks and also scored two runs. Smith went 5.1 innings, only allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four. Serafin pitched 1.2 innings in relief, surrendering just one hit and striking out two.

With the split, the Bobcats are now 9-6 on the year while Concord moves to 6-12. FSU is back with more conference play as they face Glenville in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 15, starting at 1 PM back at Steve Bazarnic Field. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.