Frostburg State University Athletics

SALEM, Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team kicked off their MEC Tournament with an 8-0 mercy rule win over Concord on Wednesday afternoon.
 
FSU sent sophomore Izabella Donaldson to the circle, as she immediately ran into trouble with a lead-off double and a walk either side of a pop up to short. She was able to get out of the frame, however sophomore Sage Haller made back-to-back catches, including an impressive nab in foul territory, to escape damage. The Bobcats then threatened in the bottom half, as senior Gracie Nelson slapped a single into left while junior Kylee Piconi drew a walk. CU got the first out on a fielder's choice, then ended the inning on a double play where the third baseman stepped on the base and threw to first.
 
Donaldson was much more efficient in the second, striking out the first two batters with swing-and-misses before fielding a grounder to set the side down in order. Coming up to bat for the first time, Donaldson drew a walk before immediately being driven in on a two-run shot to right-center by Haller. In the top of the third, Donaldson got two straight fly outs before a grounder just inside third worked for a double, however a swinging strikeout kept a run from coming across.
 
Both sides went down in order in their next trips to the plate, then in the bottom of the fourth, senior Olivia Stetler and graduate Laura Gilford ripped a pair of two-out singles but a pop up resulted in no further score. Concord looked to break through in the fifth, leading off with a single before back-to-back shallow flies into the outfield. A four-pitch walk kept the inning alive, however senior Arden Miller caught a ball in foul territory to hold onto the lead.
 
Frostburg broke the game open in the fifth, plating four runs in the frame, as Nelson led off with a walk while Piconi legged out a single off the pitcher's glove that went to second. Miller laid down a sac bunt to put each runner in scoring position, then senior Ally Myers blooped a single to left for the first run. Haller followed with another knock through the left side, then after FSU's second out, Gilford clutched a hit to center to plate Myers and Miller to put the score at 6-0.
 
Continuing to impress, Donaldson put the Mountain Lions down 1-2-3 in the sixth, giving her team a chance to end things in the bottom half. Nelson got on base once again from the lead-off spot with a knock the other way, then Piconi laid down a perfect bunt, as the throw to first got away and put Nelson on third. Miller hit a ball deep enough to left to score Nelson on a sac fly, then Myers singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Donaldson called game with a knock to left, plating Piconi and resulting in the eight-run mercy rule with the 8-0 victory.
 
A whopping five Bobcats had multi-hit days, led by Haller and Gilford combining for four knocks and five RBI. Donaldson tossed the full six innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four.
 
With the win, Frostburg improves to 35-14 on the year, while Concord drops to 26-25. FSU now advances to day two where they will face the South's one seed, Charleston (WV), at 12 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.