Baseball Rallies in Game Two to Secure Sweep in Day One of West Liberty Series
MCHENRY, Md. – The Frostburg State Baseball team swept the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Sunday afternoon in an MEC matchup at Garrett Community College, winning by scores of 9-3 and 4-1.
After junior Jacob McDonald struck out West Liberty's first batter of the game, the Hilltoppers went for a 2-0 lead as Frostburg coughed up two early errors. In the Bobcats first look at the plate, freshman Jackson Schalick earned a walk, moving to third after a long single from junior Danny Estrada. With runners on the corners, senior Ethan Kiple hit a sacrifice fly to send Schalick across home, bringing the game to 2-1. Junior Mikey Guy's first at-bat of the game forced the Hilltoppers third baseman into an error, allowing him to reach and Estrada to score to tie the game at 2-2. Freshman Ryan Bouma and junior Randy Steen then earned walks to load the bases, as a single to right field by junior Ben Weiman advanced Guy and Bouma home, pushing Frostburg ahead 4-2. In the following at-bat, Wieman and Steen stole second and third, as they both ran across home after West Liberty's catcher coughed up another WLU error, allowing the score to read 6-2.
McDonald and FSU's defense got the game to the bottom of the fourth before anymore scoring action occurred. From innings two through four, McDonald earned two strikeouts and only gave up one hit. The Bobcats got going again on offense in the bottom of the fourth, as Estrada sent one just inside the fence for a triple. Kiple and Guy then earned walks, loading the bases. Estrada and Kiple proceeded to cross home plate from a hard-hit single by Bouma, increasing FSU's lead to 8-2.
The Hilltoppers looked to keep adding to their score in the sixth but FSU only allowed them to gain one, seeing the game at 8-3. FSU answered back in their at-bats of sixth with a run of their own, with Estrada earning the RBI and Schalick scoring the run for a 9-3 ball game. Junior Todd Murphy came in to close the game for the Bobcats in the top of the seventh, giving up no hits, one walk, and leaving one on base to secure the 9-3 victory in game one.
Junior Patrick Bauer got the nod in game two, as WLU was first to score in game two as well, after a double and a single to jump in front 1-0. FSU had two hits in their first look at offense from Schalick and Kiple, but saw no further action. Bauer gave up one hit in the top of the second, as senior Justin Jimenez was able to throw the runner out at second on a stolen base attempt. Steen and Weiman picked up singles in the bottom half fo the second, but were left on base as West Liberty remained in the lead. Both teams saw a quick offensive outing in the third and fourth innings, as Bauer picked up three strikeouts and FSU knocked two more hits, as the Hilltoppers kept the 1-0 advantage heading into the fifth.
Weiman reached base to lead off the bottom of the fifth, as Estrada earning a walk put Weiman in scoring position. A long double from Kiple allowed Weiman and Estrada both to score, allowing Frostburg to take their first lead of the game at 2-1. In the next at-bat, Guy took two bases on a double, sending Kiple in to score to increase the Bobcat's lead to 3-1.
Junior Nate Vermillion came out of the bullpen to relieve Bauer in the top of the sixth, facing three batters and being credited with two strikeouts. In the bottom half of the inning, junior Cy Probst saw his first hit of the day with a double, as freshman Tiernan Daly came in to pinch run. An RBI single from Weiman sent Daly sprinting across home plate, advancing FSU's lead to 4-1 in WLU's last chance at-bats. Vermillion remained on the mound to close the game, picking up two more strikeouts to seal the 4-1 win.
Weiman paved the way offensively for Frostburg, going for four hits, three RBI, and two runs. Kiple and Estrada both finished the day with three hits, combining for five runs and four RBI. With the win in game one, McDonald advances to an overall record of 5-1, throwing six innings on four hits, three runs, zero walks, and four strikeouts. Bauer moves to an overall record of 4-1 with the win in game two, going for four hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts in five innings pitched.
With the conclusion of today's games, Frostburg moves to an overall record of 19-7 and a conference record of 12-2, while West Liberty falls to an overall record of 7-21 and a conference record of 4-10. FSU is back in action on Monday, April 8 as they take on West Liberty in another MEC doubleheader starting at 1 PM at Bob Wells Field. For more information, visit frostburgsports.com.
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