FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State softball team picked up a pair of wins in its home opener over West Liberty on Friday, winning by scores of 8-0 and 8-4.
FSU handed the ball to sophomore Izabella Donaldson to start game one, as she worked around an error and sac bunt with back-to-back swinging strikeouts to keep WLU off the board, stranding a runner at third. After the Bobcats were sat down in order, Donaldson did the same to the Hilltoppers in the second. In the bottom half, senior Ally Myers started off a great day at the plate with a towering home run high over the left-center fence to put FSU up 1-0.
Donaldson got a couple of quick pop-ups in the third before getting out of a two-out single and stolen base with a ground ball to short. Senior Gracie Nelson led the third off with a single up the middle, then classmate Arden Miller ripped one through the right side and each runner moved up on a slow grounder. Myers stepped in and would add to her RBI total, singling to right center to score both runners for a 3-0 lead.
The Bobcat defense wouldn't go unnoticed on the day, as after a runner reached on an error in the top of the fourth, junior Kylee Piconi would make a diving play on an attempted bunt, then doubling up the runner at first on a throw from her knees to get Donaldson out of the frame. Frostburg would then be helped by the WLU defense in the bottom half, as sophomore Sage Haller came inches shy of a homer with a one-out double, then the left fielder lost track of a fly ball with two outs, with Haller crossing the plate for FSU's fourth run.
After allowing a lead-off single in the fifth, Donaldson cleanly fielded a sac bunt to get the first out, then Miller made a fantastic running catch in foul territory, with the former ending the frame on another strikeout. The Bobcats would end the game by run rule after putting up four runs in the fifth inning, starting their rally with a walk from sophomore Bri Russo and a single by senior Olivia Stetler, with both runners moving up on the throw. Haller ripped a triple off the fence to score both and make things 6-0. Sophomore Zoey Marinello then laid down a safety squeeze, as Haller was able to slide home before freshman Sammy Magee was hit by a pitch. Nelson drove a double that brought Marinello in as the defacto walk-off for the 8-0 victory.
Nelson, Myers, and Haller drove the offense with seven combined hits and six RBI, as Donaldson earned the complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and no walks with four strikeouts.
Freshman Izzy Dietrich would start game two for the Bobcats, working out of a lead-off hit with a strikeout and back-to-back grounders. Nelson and Piconi worked a pair of walks either side of a strikeout in the bottom half, bringing Myers to the plate to hit an almost identical home run to her first of the day, putting FSU up 3-0. Dietrich was efficient through the next two frames, as the only baserunner she allowed was due to a hit by pitch, as she worked three K's between the innings.
Frostburg looked as though they would tack on in the bottom of the third, as Miller was hit by a pitch and Piconi walked, as the WLU coaching staff had seen enough of Myers at the plate, intentionally walking her to load the bases. A line out, strikeout, and groundout brought a swift end to the inning with the lead still at just three. In the fourth, Dietrich ran into some trouble with a lead-off error and an infield single either side of a groundout. FSU's gloves shone again, as Donaldson made a great snag on a sharp liner at first, throwing over to third to double up the runner and get out of the inning.
With the Bobcats going down in order, West Liberty finally found some life on offense, hitting a homer out to center to make things 3-1 and net their first run of the day. Seeking to respond, Piconi worked an infield single while Myers was again given a free base, as Donaldson doubled to knock in the former. Russo then played small ball, laying down a textbook bunt, as freshman pinch runner Ryann Durnall came home while some heads up baserunning from Donaldson scored a second run. Keeping the rally going, senior Olivia Stetler homered to score two more runs, making the lead 8-1. Seeking to keep the game alive, West Liberty would try and rally, picking up a pair of runs on a pair of singles and a double in the sixth. Freshman Sammy Magee entered and despite allowing the double and a walk, was able to get out of further damage with a swinging strikeout. Down to their final out in the seventh, WLU looked for a miracle with another solo shot, however an easy pop out would finish things for an 8-4 Frostburg win.
Myers and Piconi each recorded a hit and a pair of walks, with the former combining with Stetler for five RBI in the effort. Dietrich picked up the win, throwing 5.2 innings with four strikeouts, as Magee tossed an inning and a third to close things out.
With the sweep, Frostburg is now 20-4 on the year and 8-2 in Mountain East Conference play, while West Liberty drops to 9-19. FSU will next host Wheeling for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 4, where it will also be senior day for the noon doubleheader. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.
