MEC Softball Preview: #2N Frostburg State vs #3S Davis & Elkins

TROUTVILLE, Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team is set to face off against Davis & Elkins in the first round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament.

How They Got Here: FSU secured the two seed in the North Division with a 20-8 conference record, the third-best in the MEC. They began conference play with a four-game sweep of the Senators and West Virginia Wesleyan, lost three consecutive to North Division rivals, then rattled off 11 straight victories in the middle of the season. The Bobcats ended the season by taking three of their final four contests.
 
D&E comes in with a 14-16 mark in the conference as the three seed in the South Division. They struggled to start MEC play with a 6-10 record, but then won six of their next eight, while sweeping Concord on the final day of the regular season to beat the Mountain Lions out at the three spot.

The Matchup: Frostburg has never lost to Davis & Elkins, sporting an 8-0 record in the all-time series. The two games in this year's series were fairly close, with FSU coming out ahead by scores of 7-6 and 7-4.

The Players: The Bobcats are led by First Team All-MEC honoree senior Jamie Roberts, who leads the team in batting average (.418), hits (64), home runs (10), and RBI (46), while also winning nine games on the mound with a team-high 80 strikeouts. Joining her in receiving All-MEC honors are sophomores Gracie Nelson and Arden Miller, who have combined for 77 hits, 64 runs scored, 43 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. Also providing a spark offensively has been junior Allyssa Albright, second on the team in average (.376) while leading the team in doubles at 14. In the circle, seniors Katie Chapple and Sydney Theobald have won a combined 18 games, including five shutouts and 85 strikeouts.

D&E's offense is headlined by First Team honoree Sharon Morales, who is a constant threat on the basepaths, leading the team in stolen bases (49) and runs scored (51). Much of the run-driving ability comes from Second Team members Lilly Saucedo and Linzey Allard, who have combined for 120 hits, 21 doubles, 11 home runs, 67 runs, and 84 RBI. On the mound, Sammie Jarvis received First Team All-MEC with a 2.79 ERA, 15 games won, and a team-high 156 strikeouts, while Vanessa Hunt sports a 3.28 ERA with nine wins and 65 K's.

The Rest of the Field: Across the other games of the MEC tournament, South Division champions Charleston (WV) will play the North's four seed West Liberty, while North Division champs Fairmont State take on Concord, the No. 4 seed in the South. The remaining match-up sees South two seed Glenville State face off against the three seed in the North, Notre Dame (Ohio).

2024 MEC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDINGS
NORTH: #1 Fairmont State, #2 Frostburg State, #3 Notre Dame College, #4 West Liberty
SOUTH: #1 Charleston., #2 Glenville State, #3 Davis & Elkins, #4 Concord

Wednesday, MAY 1 – FIRST ROUND
#1S Charleston vs #4N West Liberty – 5:30 PM
#2N Frostburg State vs #3S Davis & Elkins – 5:30 PM
#2S Glenville State vs #3N Notre Dame – 8 PM
#1N Fairmont State vs #4S Concord – 8 PM