FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team concluded their undefeated week with a home sweep of Salem (WV) on Sunday afternoon, winning by scores of 10-2 and 4-3.
 
To start game one, freshman Sammy Magee took the circle and swiftly sat the Tigers down in order. In the bottom half, senior Gracie Nelson drew a walk while classmate Arden Miller was hit by a pitch to put the first two batters on, however they would be left stranded following a fielder's choice, fly out, and liner caught by pitcher Brooke Wise. After starting the second with a swinging strikeout, Magee saw her first bit of trouble with a single up the middle and a hit batter, while a passed ball put each in scoring position. Settling in, Magee got another swing and miss before working a grounder to sophomore Sage Haller at short to get out of the inning with no damage.
 
Sophomore Izabella Donaldson started the bottom half with a knock through the left side, while Haller was hit and junior Morgan Gross was walked to load the bases. A wild pitch brought Donaldson home, then after Nelson legged out an infield hit, Miller drove a ball to left that was deep enough to score Haller on a sac fly to lead 2-0. SU hit back in the top of the third, using a lead-off walk followed by back-to-back singles to get on the board and cut the deficit in half. Magee put another runner on with a free base but Miller made two straight catches in left to keep FSU in the lead.
 
Frostburg threatened again in their at-bats, as senior Ally Myers got a hit to left while Russo was hit by a pitch and sophomore Zoey Marinello was walked after a fielder's choice to load the bases. Russo was thrown out at home on a grounder to third, then a soft liner to second brought the inning to a close without a run coming across. In the fourth, Salem worked a one-out walk followed by a Nelson snag in center and a stolen base, using some two-out magic on a double down the line in left to even things at 2-2.
 
The Bobcats wouldn't be without the lead for long, as Miller crushed a ball into left-center, well over the fence, to go ahead 3-2. Looking to protect the lead, junior Maddie Smith came on in relief of Magee and worked an efficient 1-2-3 inning, fielding her position, getting a wave and a miss, and closing out with a fly ball to left. With the offense coming back up to the plate, Russo and Donaldson were both walked, each moving up on a well-placed sac bunt by Marinello. Graduate Laura Gilford entered as a pinch hitter and drove a ball the other way, earning her first hit in over a year to plate Russo, move Donaldson to third, and knock Wise out of the game to put FSU up 4-2. Frostburg welcomed the new SU pitcher with four consecutive singles through senior Olivia Stetler, Nelson, Miller, and junior Kylee Piconi, putting another four runs on the board. Myers was up next and lofted a ball into right field, which tipped off the fielder's glove and allowed Miller and Piconi to both score with a de facto walk-off at 10-2 by mercy rule.
 
Miller led the offense with a pair of hits and three RBI, while she, Donaldson, and Haller each scored a pair of runs. Magee allowed just two runs through four innings with three strikeouts, as Smith earned her first career save in protecting the one-run lead and setting the stage for the Bobcats' big fifth inning.
 
Salem quickly shook off the heavy loss to start game two, getting to freshman starter Izzy Dietrich early with a hit by pitch and back-to-back two-out singles to take their first lead of the day. FSU's at-bats went quietly, as did the Tigers', with grounders accounting for five of the six outs. It appeared as if things were headed for another scoreless frame with two Frostburg outs in the bottom of the second, but Donaldson got just enough of a ball to send it out for a home run to tie things at 1-1.
 
Working into a groove, Dietrich put the side down in order in each of the next three innings, including starting an inning-ending fifth after allowing a single by nabbing a comebacker and firing to first to get the runner out. FSU finally was able to break through again in the bottom half, as Haller led off with a hit up the middle while Miller drew a four-pitch walk. Nelson stepped in and lined a ball into center, as the throw got away from Salem's catcher and allowed both runners to score while Nelson made it all the way to third. Piconi then hit a soft ground ball to second that allowed Nelson to score and increase the lead up to 4-1.
 
Seeking to find a response, SU led off the sixth with back-to-back singles to bring the tying run to the plate. Russo made a nice running catch in foul territory to get the first out, then Donaldson grabbed a lazy fly ball before another knock loaded the bases. The next ball was hit to Haller, who smartly flipped to Piconi at third for the force to close the inning out without a run scoring. Frostburg wasn't able to tack on any insurance in the bottom half, giving the Tigers one more shot to stay alive in the seventh.
 
A bloop single kicked the inning off, with Dietrich responding on a swinging strikeout. Wise drove a ball into right-center for an RBI double, getting the deficit down to two and again getting the tying run in the batter's box. Nelson was able to grab a high fly ball into center but another soft single the other way brought Wise home to get within 4-3. On the very next pitch, Dietrich called off her infield as she caught a pop up to finally put SU away and secure the one-run win.
 
Donaldson, Haller, and Nelson each reached base twice, the former two putting a pair of hits with the latter drawing walks. Dietrich threw a complete-game to earn the win, her tenth of the season, without allowing a walk.
 
With the sweep, Frostburg improves to 28-4 on the year, while Salem drops to 13-22. FSU will remain at home to host Shippensburg on Wednesday, April 15 at 2 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.