FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State softball team wrapped up its regular season against Charleston (WV) on Sunday, falling 13-5 and 8-6.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead, leading off with two walks before launching a three-run homer in the top of the first. After FSU went down quietly, UC was able to add another three runs in the second with a hit by pitch, walk, double, and sac fly plating three more runs. Senior Ally Myers got the first Bobcat hit of the day with a double to the gap in right-center, however got left stranded after a fly out and strikeout. Charleston kept their offense rolling in the third, with an error and three consecutive singles putting another trio of runs on the board for a 9-0 lead.
Both sides went the next two innings without much offense, as the Bobcats would find a spark in the bottom of the fifth facing the mercy rule. Senior Olivia Stetler led off with a double to left, then graduate Laura Gilford hit a two-run homerun for her first of the year. Senior Gracie Nelson and junior Kylie Piconi then drew back-to-back walks, as senior Arden Miller and sophomore Sage Haller both singled to bring in three more runs, bringing the score down to 9-5.
Charleston answered right back in the sixth, using a walk, error, and single to put a run across before tacking on a second with an RBI groundout. Stetler hit a lead-off single to left to begin the bottom half, however despite Nelson reaching on an error, no runs would come across. The Golden Eagles used a double and a pair of singles to net two more in the seventh, as Frostburg went without a baserunner for the visitors to take game one by a score of 13-5.
As they had done in the first contest, UC would take another early lead, this time using a pair of singles either side of a walk to lead 1-0. The Bobcats would answer right away, with Nelson getting a free base followed by Piconi doubling and Miller getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Myers worked an RBI groundout, as Haller would hit a clutch two-out single to center to bring home two more runs for FSU to go up 3-1.
After a scoreless second, UC would tie things up in the third inning with a two-out walk and two straight doubles that made it 3-3. In the bottom half, Myers and Haller each drew a walk, as Stetler continued her big day at the plate, putting the Bobcats up 4-3 on an RBI single. Both teams went quietly in the fourth, as Golden Eagles would score two in the fifth from three singles and a walk to regain the lead 5-4. Stepping in to respond immediately, Miller launched a homer over the wall to tie the game at 5-5.
Charleston was determined to take the sweep, as they put hit-after-hit together alongside three walks in the sixth to lead 8-5. Hoping to provide a spark, Gilford hit her second long ball of the day to give the Bobcats a run in the sixth to get within two. With UC unable to add a run in the seventh, Miller looked to kick off a rally by drawing a walk in the final FSU at-bats, however a strikeout and double play gave the visitors the 8-6 win.
Stetler led the offense for the Bobcats with the three hits while Haller had four RBI and Gilford added three with her two home runs.
With the losses, Frostburg drops to 34-14 on the year, while Charleston improves to 42-14. The Bobcats will next head into the MEC Tournament to face the three seed in the South - Concord, in Salem, VA at the Moyer Sports Complex. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.
