Softball Drops Pair to Mount Olive, Lenoir-Rhyne to Conclude Weekend Trip

HICKORY, N.C. – The Frostburg State Softball team was swept by Mount Olive and Lenoir-Rhyne by scores of 14-6 and 11-3 to conclude their weekend trip on Sunday.
 
FSU got on the board first in game one against UMO, as junior Gracie Nelson put a single into left, moved up on a sac bunt by senior Hannah Binek and again on a passed ball, eventually coming home off a Trojan error. Mount Olive came right back in the bottom half, putting each of their first three batters on, though the Bobcats were able to get two runners out at home to prevent runs. UMO was still able to break through with a two-out rally, using a single, double, and triple to plate five total runs to take a firm advantage.
 
Senior Cristina Sommerkamp led off the second with a single through the left side, followed by freshman Bri Russo and Nelson drawing walks, but a fly out ended the threat with the bases loaded. The Trojans furthered their lead in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single, then singling and doubling to plate another four runs, followed by a two-run homer. With a two-RBI single, UMO capped their eight-run frame with a 13-1 lead.
 
Frostburg found some life in the top of the third, as junior Olivia Stetler reached on a fielder's choice and reached third on a double by classmate Arden Miller. Stetler came in to score off a single from freshman Zoey Marinello, then her and Miller were both brought in by a Russo homer to make things 13-5. Neither side generated much in the next inning and a half, then in the fifth Miller lined a double into the left-center gap and was brought home on Russo's fourth RBI of the game, singling to left. Mount Olive ended the contest in the bottom half, as a lead-off walk, wild pitch, and double gave them the eight-run mercy rule with a 14-6 final.
 
Starting off game two, the Bobcats once again got on the board first, as Binek reached on a fielder's choice following a Nelson infield single, with senior Samara Funk then drawing a walk and Miller ripping a knock to left that plated Binek. LRU came right back in the bottom half, as four singles and a walk led to a 3-1 advantage.
 
Russo led off the second with a single, advancing to second on a sac bunt from freshman Julia Meagher. After junior Ashlynn Routzahn reached on an error, Nelson brought Russo home with a double into right-center to get within 3-2. FSU was able to hold the Bears scoreless in the bottom half, then Miller rocketed a shot to straightaway center to tie things at 3-3.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne came right back with a lead-off homer in the bottom half, then used a double, walk, wild pitch, and infield single to regain a 5-3 advantage. Funk put a double into center with one out in the fourth, followed by a Stetler single, but both were left stranded after a pop out and groundout. LRU broke the game open in the bottom half, putting up five runs, the majority coming on a three-run homer, to go ahead 10-3. The Bobcats managed just one walk in the fifth, while an error and back-to-back singles once again ended things by mercy rule with the Bears winning 11-3.
 
With the losses, Frostburg drops to 2-8 on the year and will remain on the road to face Seton Hill for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 5 beginning at 1 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.