Bears, Trojans Defeat Softball in First Day of Return to North Carolina

HICKORY, N.C. – The Frostburg State Softball team dropped both of their contests against Lenoir-Rhyne and Mount Olive by scores of 12-0 and 5-3, respectively on Saturday.
 
Leading off game one against LRU, junior Gracie Nelson knocked a single the other way, while classmate Olivia Stetler followed suit two batters later, but FSU left both runners on off a lineout to second. The Bears used a one-out double to start the scoring in the bottom half, as a walk, another two-base hit and a liner up the middle plated three total runs before junior Ally Myers got out of the frame with a strikeout. Frostburg again was set up with runners on to start the second on a freshman Zoey Marinello hit and senior Cristina Sommerkamp getting plunked, but three straight strikeouts once again ended the threat.
 
Myers worked a fairly clean inning in the bottom half, allowing just one baserunner on a strikeout that got to the backstop but no further damage. The Bobcats went quiet in the third, while LRU plated another three runs in the bottom half on a walk, three singles, and an error to lead 6-0. Junior Ashlynn Routzahn worked a two-out walk in the fourth and was pinch-run for by freshman Ava Fair, followed by Nelson running out an infield single, as each runner advanced a base on an error. Both were left on base, however, with a pop out to right in foul ground ending the scoring chance.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne ended any hopes of an FSU comeback in the bottom half of the fourth, plating six runs in the frame to go up 12-0. Three consecutive outs confirmed the shutout as the Bears took the first win of the day.
 
In game two, UMO got off to a quick start with a single, stolen base, wild pitch, and error all leading to a 1-0 advantage in the first. FSU didn't manage a baserunner until the bottom of the third, when sophomore Katie Healy drew a one-out walk, but despite swiping a bag was left on base. The Trojans furthered their lead in the top of the fourth, using a pair of walks, another error, and a double to right to plate a pair of runs. Another wild pitch and a groundout allowed another to score as the lead grew to 5-0.
 
The Bobcats were able to get a run back in the bottom half, as junior Arden Miller reached on a walk, then got brought in on a double into the gap in right-center by Stetler. Healy ripped a one-out triple down the line in the fifth but couldn't run home on a fly out and saw the inning come to an end on a liner to third. On in relief, Myers kept the Mount Olive bats quiet for three consecutive innings, continuously giving the Frostburg bats a chance to get back in the game. Things ended up coming down to the bottom of the seventh, where senior Hanna Binek drew a lead-off walk and  Sommerkamp launched a homer into left that suddenly brought the game to 5-3. Freshman Sage Haller tried to keep the momentum going by running out an infield single, but a fly out and double play ended the game with UMO hanging on for the victory.
 
Nelson and Stetler both recorded multi-hit days, with the latter and Sommerkamp responsible for all three combined runs.
 
With the losses, FSU drops to 2-6 on the year and will face both opponents again tomorrow, March 2 beginning with Mount Olive at 10 AM. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.