FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State softball team split their midweek regional matchup with Shippensburg, losing game one 15-6 and winning the second game 5-4.
SU had their bats going early with a lead-off home run to start the first game, following up with a pair of singles to take a quick 2-0 advantage. FSU responded in their at-bats, as senior Arden Miller was hit by a pitch while junior Kylee Piconi drew a walk, as some heads-up baserunning on a passed ball and errant throw allowed each to score to tie things up at 2-2. The Raiders came right back up and used four singles and a double to add four more runs in the second inning. Constant offense continued to be the theme, as sophomore Zoey Marinello kicked off a two-out rally with a single up the middle, then classmate Sage Haller was plunked and senior Gracie Nelson singled in the gap to knock in the former and make the score 6-3.
Shippensburg wouldn't let up, leading the third off with a solo homer followed by two walks and a single to plate another, capping the frame off with their second shot over the fence, this one going for three more for an 11-3 lead. Piconi and senior Olivia Stetler worked a pair of singles in the third but weren't able to come in, getting the Raider bats back to the plate. The visitors put together a pair of singles and a walk to load the bags, bringing four runs across on a pair of doubles either side of a sac fly for a 15-3 advantage. For the first time of the day, both teams had at-bats go by without any offense, putting FSU up in the bottom of the fifth. Miller led off by putting one into center, as she came all the way to the plate on an error off the bat of Piconi. Senior Ally Myers then ripped one up the middle to score Piconi before junior Morgan Gross got in on the action with an RBI double. Myers scored on an RBI groundout from freshman Mackenzie Monahan, but that would be the final action for the Bobcats, eventually losing by mercy rule 15-6.
Seeking to shake off the loss, sophomore Izabella Donaldson took the circle in game two and sat the Raiders down in order for the first frame. Nelson would lead off the bottom half with a walk, setting the stage for Miller to hit a no-doubt-about-it shot just to the right of the scoreboard in left to give FSU a 2-0 lead. Piconi then knocked one into left, as Stetler doubled and freshman Bri Russo drew a walk to load the bases, but a foul pop-up and strikeout brought the threat to an end. Donaldson tossed a 1-2-3 second, as freshman Sammy Magee would then be stranded after a lead-off single in Frostburg's trip to the plate.
SU broke through in the third, using a pair of singles either side of a walk to get traffic on the bases. With one swing of the bat, they turned their two-run deficit into a two-run lead, as a grand slam put things at 4-2. FSU would bounce back quickly, as Stetler hit a line-drive home run to pull back within a run. Donaldson worked out of a jam in the fourth, with a one-out single and walk getting runners on, however a fielder's choice and inning-ending strikeout ensured no runs came across. The Bobcats would put together a two-out rally in the bottom half, as Nelson hit a single up the middle to set up Miller once, sending a ball over the fence in right-center to go up 5-4. In the fifth, Donaldson got a pair of quick outs before a gap double and error put runners on the corners but she again avoided getting scored on with a high pop up caught by Haller.
With FSU unable to add any insurance, another nervy outing in the fifth saw a lead-off double followed by a swinging strike and wild pitch to get the tying run to third. Nelson helped out her starter with a shoestring catch in center, as Donaldson then got a routine grounder to second to keep her team in the lead. Graduate pinch hitter Laura Gilford led the bottom half off by reaching on an error, however a pop up to the catcher and double play line-out kept the lead at just one. After Magee made an easy catch in foul territory to start the seventh, SU looked to keep their hopes of a sweep alive with a single the other way and a walk. Donaldson would settle herself, getting a much-needed fly out to center and then Russo saved FSU's day by making a great catch on the warning track for the final out of the game.
Miller, Piconi and Stetler all had three hits on the day, with the former tallying four RBI and runs scored on the day. Donaldson picked up her 12
th win of the season in game two, with the grand slam being her only runs allowed with four strikeouts.
With the split, Frostburg is now 29-5 on the season, while Shippensburg moves to 25-13. The Bobcats will travel to face Concord on Saturday, April 18 for a doubleheader starting at 1 PM. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.
