FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team pushed their win streak to 10 games with their Saturday home sweep of Point Park by scores of 10-6 and 4-2.
 
Sophomore Izabella Donaldson took the circle in game one, allowing a lead-off walk before the runner left early for an out, followed by a pop up to short. With one swing of the bat, PPU took the lead, as Cam Mann put a homer over the center field fence before an inning-ending strikeout. FSU picked up their starter and came right back in their at-bats, stringing together four consecutive hits in the bottom half. Seniors Gracie Nelson and Arden Miller lined back-to-back singles, then junior Kylee Piconi ripped a double into the gap in right-center to score both before senior Ally Myers got a knock into left. Sophomore Bri Russo stepped in and smacked a triple over the right fielder's head, plating two more before coming across herself on a two-out blooper off the bat of classmate Zoey Marinello, ending the first up 5-1.
 
Donaldson had some more trouble in the second, allowing a lead-off double followed by a sac bunt to put the runner at third. She calmly worked out of the frame, getting a strikeout looking followed by another swinging to keep the Pioneers off the board. The Bobcats used some two-out magic in their trip to the plate, as Piconi pulled a double just fair down the left field line, while Myers went the other way on a two-base hit. Senior Olivia Stetler pushed a hit the other way to plate Myers and bring the lead up to 7-1.
 
Point Park wasn't able to get anything in the third, as despite getting a one-out single, Nelson made a catch on a fly to center before Stetler fired a dart to catch the runner trying to steal second. After Frostburg went down in order, PPU put together their best offensive inning of the day in the fourth, using a pair of singles either side of a double to put two more on the board and cut the deficit to 7-3. FSU responded quickly in the bottom half, as Piconi drew a two-out walk before Myers smacked one over the fence to go back up by six.
 
The Pioneers didn't manage much in the fifth, with Donaldson making a snag on a comebacker followed by a swinging strikeout. Marinello led the bottom half off with a knock up the middle, moving to second on a sac bunt from sophomore Julia Meagher and being replaced on the bases by freshman Mackenzie Monahan. After a liner right back to the pitcher, Miller stepped in and sent one into right-center, plating Monahan and putting the score at 10-3. PPU continued to put together hits, using a trio of singles to load the bases with just one out. A fielder's choice to sophomore Sage Haller at short got an out at the cost of a run, as Donaldson stranded the remaining runners with another K.
 
Russo looked to create some more two-out runs with a double to left but would advance no further, bringing the game to the final half inning. With a six-run lead, Myers relieved Donaldson on the mound and swiftly fielded a grounder before working another to Piconi. The Pioneers stayed alive with a walk on a 3-2 count, then lined back-to-back hits to net a run. Shania Cope then stepped in and hit a double out to center, as one run scored before a well-executed relay from Nelson-to-Piconi-to-Stetler got the second runner out to end the game at a 10-6 score.
 
Frostburg had a whopping seven batters record multi-hit games, led by Myers and Russo each putting three on the board and combining for five RBI.
 
Getting the start in game two, freshman Sammy Magee set Point Park down in order to get FSU to the plate. Miller reached on an error while Piconi drew a walk, as each moved up on a wild pitch. The Pioneers were able to escape without any damage, as a strikeout and grounder back to the pitcher ended the frame. Magee saw her first traffic in the second on an error and single up the middle, as a passed ball put each in scoring position. She got a much-needed strikeout before working back-to-back pop ups fielded by Marinello to keep the game scoreless.
 
After the Bobcats went down in order, PPU would again use the long ball to take the lead, as Mia Arndt hit one into left-center for the game's first score. In the bottom half, Nelson enjoyed an adventurous trip around the bases, drawing a one-out walk before a wild pitch and passed ball brought her all the way to third. Miller lofted a deep fly into right that scored Nelson and tied things at 1-1.
 
In the third, Magee worked a 1-2-3 inning, then in the next frame, she got out of a two-out walk and infield single with some help from a great diving catch by Nelson to keep the score knotted at one. Frostburg's bats finally broke through in the bottom half, as Marinello drew a lead-off walk before Haller reached on a fielder's choice. Nelson knocked a ball through the left side before Miller followed with a bloop hit that Haller came sprinting around to score on. After Nelson and Miller each stole bases, Piconi just kept a fly ball fair into right, going around for a two-RBI triple to give FSU a 4-1 advantage.
 
Freshman Izzy Dietrich was entrusted to close things out in relief of Magee, as the Bobcat defense impressed once more following a one-out single, with Haller kicking off a 6-4-3 double play to keep the lead at three. Seeking some insurance in the bottom of the sixth, Russo and Marinello each drew a walk either side of a grounder to third, however a fielder's choice and pop fly to short kept the score where it was. Looking for some late magic, the Pioneers started the seventh with a triple down the line in right, getting the runner home on an RBI groundout to Marinello. Dietrich settled in, fielding her position before Russo made the game-ending catch in right to secure the 4-2 victory.
 
Nelson, Miller, and Piconi provided the lone three hits, with the latter two combining to drive in all four runs. Magee picked up the win, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five, as Dietrich earned her second save of the year with two hits and a run coming across over two innings.
 
With the sweep, Frostburg improves to 26-4 on the year, while Point Park drops to 7-24. FSU will be right back at home on Sunday, April 12 to face Salem (WV) at 1 p.m. in another doubleheader. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.