WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Frostburg State Softball team earned a pair of decisive wins against Bowie State on Sunday afternoon, winning 9-1 and 15-0.
 
Game one began with senior Arden Miller drawing a two-out walk and advancing to second on a passed ball, however a groundout ended the frame. In the circle, freshman Sammy Magee sat the Bulldogs down 1-2-3 including a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Bri Russo led the second off with a walk, as classmate Sage Haller followed with one her own, however a pair of Bobcat strikeouts threatened to end another scoreless frame. The sophomore rally continued, with Izabella Donaldson smack a three-run homer over the fence to give FSU a 3-0 advantage.
 
BSU hit back in the bottom half, loading the bases with a pair of walks and an infield single. Magee worked a pair of K's before another infield hit plated a run, though she was able to prevent further damage with a pop out to second. Frostburg's offense responded in the third, as junior Kylee Piconi doubled to straightaway center before Miller launched an opposite-field home run to push ahead 5-1.
 
In the bottom half, Magee worked a groundball to third, then was helped out on a pop out to short, with the runner being thrown out on the play to end the inning. Neither side managed much offense in the fourth, as senior Gracie Nelson hit a single up the middle for FSU while Magee put Bowie State down in order. Freshman Izzy Dietrich came on to pitch the bottom of the fifth, getting out of a lead-off walk with back-to-back swinging strikeouts and a groundball to third.
 
FSU began to pile things on in the sixth, as a Bulldog error was followed by Donaldson hitting her second bomb of the day to go up 7-1. Nelson followed with a bunt single, while Piconi walked and the former moved up to third on a fly ball to center. A well-worked double steal brought Nelson home, while Piconi scored on a Russo double into right, putting the lead at 9-1. Dietrich was able to close things out with another pair of K's before fielding her position to complete the mercy rule victory.
 
Nelson, senior Olivia Stetler, Russo, and Donaldson all recorded multi-hit games, with the latter supplying a career-high five RBI. Magee and Dietrich combined for six innings of work, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out eight.
 
The Bobcats kept their offense rolling into game two, with Nelson and Piconi drawing back-to-back walks and Miller launching a ball to center for a quick 3-0 lead. Stetler and Haller then worked a pair of singles either side of Russo and sophomore Zoey Marinello being given free bases to score another, then a wild pitch plated the fifth run of the opening frame.
 
Donaldson took the mound and was efficient through the first three innings, allowing just one walk and no hits in keeping the Bulldogs off the board. After a pair of quiet trips to the plate, Frostburg got themselves going again in the fourth, with freshman Ryann Durnall leading off on a knock down the left field line, moving up to third on a sac bunt and passed ball. Nelson bunted her way on, plating Durnall and pushing ahead 6-0.
 
In the bottom half, Bowie State produced their first pair of hits against Donaldson, leading off with an infield single and a double to put runners in scoring position. A pop out to short helped calm things down, then Donaldson was able to field a bunt attempt and get the lead runner at home, while Haller made a catch on a hot shot to her at short to end the inning with no runs coming across.
 
FSU blew the game open in the fifth, scoring nine runs in beginning to run away with things once again. Russo was able to leg out an infield single, as Marinello, Haller, and Durnall each were walked to bring a run in. Another BSU error kept the runners advancing, while Nelson singled to left, Piconi drew a walk, and Miller ripped a two-RBI double into left-center. As the lineup flipped over, Russo and Marinello strung another two hits together to make things 15-0. Donaldson completed her shutout by working a fly out, groundout, and strikeout as the Bobcats took their second mercy rule of the day.
 
Nelson, Miller, and Russo all had at least two hits, RBI, and runs scored in the effort, while Donaldson went five scoreless innings on three hits, walks, and K's.
 
With the sweep, Frostburg improves to 9-1 on the year, while Bowie State drops to 1-11. FSU will next play their home opener on Wednesday, March 11 at 1 p.m. against Jefferson. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.