SALEM, Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team saw their season come to a close with a 6-2 loss to Glenville State in the MEC Tournament on Friday afternoon.
With both teams facing elimination with a loss, FSU had the first at-bats, where senior Gracie Nelson and junior Kylee Piconi worked back-to-back singles to lead off. GSU swiftly got out of the jam, as a strikeout and pick-off at first was followed by a pop up. In their first trip to the plate, the Pioneers wasted little time getting on the board, leading off with a triple, walk, and stolen base to put two runners in scoring position. A sac fly brought one run home, while three singles, a walk, and an error resulting in three more coming across for a 4-0 advantage.
Neither side managed much in the second, as freshman Gabby Encinas entered the circle for the Bobcats and only allowed one runner on an error. In the third, freshman Sammy Magee and Piconi drew a pair of walks either side of a looking strikeout, however a fly out and another K again left runners stranded.
Glenville tacked on a run in the third, using a single and three consecutive two-out walks to net their fifth run of the day. Frostburg finally got their bats going in the top of the fourth, as sophomore Sage Haller and graduate Laura Gilford lined back-to-back one-out singles to left. A Pioneer error allowed Haller to score, then after Magee walked to load the bases, Nelson worked an RBI groundout to make the score 5-2.
Having come on during the third, junior Maddie Smith got out of some early traffic in the fourth, as the first two batters reached on a single and walk, as she worked three consecutive fly outs to prevent further damage. FSU didn't manage much in their next at-bats, as Smith was replaced on the mound, with GSU using a pair of walks and an RBI single to go up by four. Looking for a way back into the game, Gilford worked an infield single to start the sixth but a line out double play effectively ended the threat, despite Magee doubling the other way.
Glenville sought to add more runs in the bottom half, getting the bases loaded with no outs on a pair of walks and a single, however sophomore Izabella Donaldson was able to get out of the jam with a swinging strikeout, an infield fly, and a grounder to third. Down to their final three outs, Frostburg wasn't able to get a runner on, going down in order to close the 6-2 final.
With the loss, Frostburg ends their season at 36-16, while Glenville stays alive with another elimination game later in the day.
