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Baseball Concludes Series Sweep of Hilltoppers, Wins Eighth Straight

The Frostburg State Baseball team swept the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Monday afternoon at Bob Wells Field by scores of 5-2 and 4-1 to conclude the four game series.
Mon, Apr 8, 2024

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Baseball team swept the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Monday afternoon at Bob Wells Field by scores of 5-2 and 4-1 to conclude the four game series.

Senior Max Proctor started on the mound for the Bobcats and cleared the first inning after a hit from West Liberty and an error by FSU. Three quick outs in the bottom of the first sent the game right into the second. WLU did not earn a hit but left one on base after a walk. Frostburg then put two runners on, as junior Ben Wieman cracked the first hit of the day for FSU to load the bases, as all three runners were stranded heading into the third. 

On the defensive side, Proctor and Frostburg's defense saw the minimum of three batters.  The Bobcats started their offense in the bottom of the third, as freshman Jackson Schalick and junior Danny Estrada took their time at the plate earning walks. With runners on first and second, senior Ethan Kiple hit a bomb to right field, advancing the game to 3-0. The Hilltoppers answered back in the fourth as a double and a pair of singles earned them a run to bring the score to 3-1, as Proctor stranded two runners on base to get out of the inning. Schalick, back at the plate, had the lone hit for FSU in the fourth, as the score remained 3-1 heading into the fifth. 

Frostburg coughed up another error in the field, resulting in another run for West Liberty see the game at 3-2, as Proctor stranded another Hilltopper on base.  A 1-2-3 offensive setting for the Bobcats set up graduate Daniel Morgano on the bump, coming in for relief, giving up one hit in the top of the sixth.  In the bottom half of the inning, the Bobcats added two more runs to their score. Junior Cy Probst hit a single, with freshman Tiernan Daly coming in to pinch run, as a single from junior Randy Steen put runners on first and second. Junior Justin Jimenez then at the plate with one out hit a single to left field, while Daly turned on the jets scoring the fourth run to increase FSU's lead to 4-1. Steen and Jimenez each stole a base putting them in scoring position, as Schalick hit a sacrifice fly scoring Steen, allowing the score to read 5-2 heading into WLU's last chance at-bats.  Kiple took the mound to close game one, throwing a strikeout and causing two ground outs, allowing Frostburg to pick up the 5-2 win.  

Freshman Ben Berger got the nod in game two, dishing out one hit but getting the Bobcats out of the first. Schalick earned a walk and stole second for FSU's first runner of game two, but was left on base. Junior Cael Huyer threw the second, leaving one Hilltopper on base.  Steen reached base in the bottom of the inning, advancing to second after a groundout by Probst. Freshman Logan Helser then singled in his first at-bat of the day, advancing Steen to third, as an RBI single from junior Christian Shertzer sent Steen sliding home for a 1-0 lead after two.

Pulling from the bullpen, freshman Bryce Hendricks took over in the third, as West Liberty was able to tie the game at 1-1, with Hendricks getting out of the inning with a strikeout, leaving two on base.  The Bobcats connected on two hits in the bottom of the third, stranding two on base, as senior Hayden Ford and freshman Jack Ray threw in the fourth, keeping the game at 1-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning. 

FSU stretched their lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Helser smashed a double, advancing to third off a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Schalick allowed Helser to score for a 2-1 Frostburg lead. Estrada was then sent to first after drawing a walk, advancing to third as Kiple doubled to left. Junior Mikey Guy then proceeded to send one to the right field fence for a stand-up double, scoring both Estrada and Kiple to extend the Bobcats lead to 4-1. Ray took FSU through the sixth inning, only giving up two total hits and leaving two on base.  Frostburg only recorded one hit in their next two at-bats, as graduate Ben Vok closed the game for the Bobcats picking up two strikeouts and stranding two runners on base, sealing the 4-1 win in game two for FSU.

Kiple led the way on offense for Frostburg, smacking three hits for three RBI and two runs on the day.  Schalick, Guy, and Helser each recorded a pair of hits, combining for four RBI and two runs.  Proctor knotted his fourth win of the season in game one, pitching five innings, giving up five hits, two runs, and one walk, while Kiple was credited with his fourth save of the season.  Throwing three innings on two hits and one strikeout, Ray earned his first win of the season in game two, as Vok picked up his first save on the season. 

With the conclusion of today's games, Frostburg moves to an overall record of 21-7 and a conference record of 14-2, while West Liberty falls to an overall record of 7-23 and a conference record of 4-12. The Bobcats are back in action on Tuesday, April 9 as they travel to California, Pa to play a non-conference game against the Vulcans at 3 PM. For more information, visit frostburgsports.com.