Theobald's Shutout in Game Two Leads Softball to Saturday Sweep of Cardinals

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team swept the Wheeling Cardinals in an MEC doubleheader on Saturday morning by scores of 8-7 and 3-0.

In game one, senior Katie Chapple started on the mound for FSU, with Wheeling jumping out to a 1-0 lead after a single and a double. The Bobcats, now at bat, answered back with sophomore Gracie Nelson being patient at the plate, earning a walk, as back-to-back singles from senior Jamie Roberts and junior Cristina Sommerkamp loaded the bases. Nelson saw an opportunity, taking home on the throw after Sommerkamp's single, tying the game at 1-1. A solid double from junior Hanna Binek sent both Roberts and Sommerkamp running through home, pushing the score to 3-1. Binek advanced to third on a passed ball, proceeding to steal home to give FSU a 4-1 lead after the first.

The Cardinals saw players on the corners to start the second inning, after a single and a Frostburg error. With two outs on the board, a throw from third to first sent the game into the bottom of the second. Junior Allyssa Albright started at bat, earning a walk, with sophomore Arden Miller subbed in to pinch run for Albright. Miller took a chance on the bases, securing a stolen base. Junior Samara Funk then hit a single, with the hit being enough for Miller to reach home for a 5-1 score. Nelson proceeded to hit a sacrifice bunt, allowing Funk to get into scoring position. With one out on the board, Roberts singled but was called out trying to go for second, still earning an RBI on Funk's run through home to bring the game to 6-1. Chapple hit the Cardinals with a three up three down in the third, with WU pulling from their bullpen for a new pitcher. With bases loaded ,senior Brianna Munday on third, freshman Kylee Piconi on second and senior Ava Gnibus on first, Albright hit into a fielder's choice, reaching first but seeing Munday out at home. Bases were loaded, once again with two outs, as sending senior Ellie Buckheit in to pinch hit paid off as her single ran Piconi in tor a 7-1 Bobcat advantage. Both teams left one on base in the fourth, seeing no hits nor runs.

A strong triple from the Cardinals kicked off the top of the fifth, as a passed ball would see Wheeling taking home, advancing the score to 7-2.  A quick three outs for FSU's offense turned the card to the top of the sixth. An error and a walk put two Cardinals on base, as a hard single moved both runners two places, earning the third score for Wheeling for a 7-3 ballgame. A single after that brought in another score for WU, bringing the game to 7-4. With two outs, Wheeling sent the ball over the fence for a three-run homer, tying the game 7-7. Sophomore Ally Myers was called in to pitch, getting FSU out of the inning. Sophomore Ashlynn Routzahn pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth, knocking a double to the outfield. Nelson took her place on second, coming in to pinch run, as a groundout for Roberts sent Nelson one step closer to scoring. A sacrifice fly from Sommerkamp regained the lead for FSU, as Nelson crossed home plate for a 8-7 Frostburg lead. WU in their last at-bats saw no hits, as Myers closed out game one and earned the win going 2-0 on the season.

Senior Sydney Theobald got the nod in game two, starting her day with a strikeout and two groundouts. FSU earned a hit in the first from Funk, but WU got out of the inning, leaving Funk one base.  Another quick three outs from FSU's defense put the Bobcats back at the plate. With two outs, Binek reached first as Wheeling made an error, as a walk by Munday, and Gnibus getting hit by a pitch loaded up the bases. The Cardinals took the opportunity to bring in a new pitcher, as in her first at-bat, sophomore Olivia Stelter hit a single, bringing in both Munday and Binek for a 2-0 Frostburg lead. The third and fourth were offensively quiet for the respective teams, as Wheeling picked up a hit and Theobald was credited with a strikeout.