Myers' Gem, Gross' Home Run Lead Softball in Split with Tigers

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State softball team split a home doubleheader against Salem (WV) on Saturday, falling 4-3 in the first game before a 10-1 mercy rule win in game two. 
 
Senior Katie Chapple started off in the circle for FSU, giving up two first inning hits but working through the inning without giving up any runs. Back-to-back one-out singles from seniors Hanna Binek and Samara Fun set the Bobcats up but a strikeout and groundout ended the threat. Chapple would look even stronger in the second inning, making quick work of SU with just one runner allowed on base. FSU would threaten in the bottom half, when senior Cristina Sommerkamp legged out an infield single and advance to second on a high throw. She got to third after an error at first but was called out at home trying to score after the ball took a fortunate bounce to short.

Salem took advantage of a pair of Bobcat errors with two outs in the third, putting their first run across for the lead. The Tigers would add another run in the fourth on a solo home run, going up 2-0. With the Bobcats struggling at the plate, not recording a hit until a junior Arden Miller single up the middle in the fifth, Salem would add two insurance runs on a pair of walks and singles in the sixth to go up 4-0.

FSU would break through in the bottom of the inning, as Funk led off with a double. Junior pinch hitter Ashlynn Routzahn then cut the lead in half with a towering homer to center to make it 4-2. With two down freshman Kylie Pytlak would knock in another run to get the Bobcats within one. Freshman Bri Russo and Sommerkamp both reached on errors, advancing to second and third after a groundout. Another timely substitution brought home another run off the bat of freshman pinch hitter Kylie Pytlak, but an inning-ending grounder to short stopped the comeback one run shy of a tie game.

Junior Ally Myers came on in relief to start the seventh, setting SU down in order to give Frostburg one more shot to keep the game alive. With one out, Funk would hit another double in to give FSU a chance to tie or take the lead. She was able to get to third on a groundout, but the Tigers would shut down any idea of allowing her to score with another piece of clean fielding, rounding out the inning and winning 4-3 to take game one. 

Game two looked like much different for Frostburg on all fronts, as Myers, getting the start, worked out of a leadoff single to keep SU off the board. The Bobcats would jump out early, as Miller reached second after a dropped fly ball in center to lead off. After two quick outs, Routzahn kept the inning alive with a walk, then sophomore Morgan Gross would hit a three-run bomb, the first of her career, to put FSU up 3-0. Salem hit right back to start the second with a homer to left-center, but Myers settled in to sit the next three batters down.

Russo and Miller lined back-to-back singles into left in the bottom of the second, while Binek drew a walk to load the bases. Funk tacked on an RBI with a sac fly to right, with Russo coming home to score. After Myers kept SU quiet at the plate, Frostburg would continue to find ways to get on base, with Gross getting hit by a pitch and Sommerkamp drawing a walk. Myers then stepped in and helped her own cause, belting a ball over the center field fence to plate three runs. Continuing the momentum, freshman Zoey Marinello and Russo would smack back-to-back doubles, adding another on the board. Miller then worked a walk and stole second before Funk got an RBI groundout to first, while the former came all the way in to score off a wild pitch, ending the frame with a comfortable 10-1 advantage.

Myers continued to twirl in the circle, earning another three grounders with just one single allowed. Sommerkamp drew another base on balls to start the fourth but a double play ended any hope of another run. Seeking to close out the contest early by the eight-run rule, Myers was helped out by a great catch in left from sophomore Katie Healy and an over-the-shoulder nab at first by Funk before an easy grounder to Marinello closed the game out with the 10-1 mercy rule in effect. 

Funk, Russo, Gross, and Myers all enjoyed big days at the plate, combining for seven hits and eight RBI, with Routzahn adding a pair of runs driven in as well. Myers concluded her day on the mound with a combined six innings, allowing just four hits with just the one run allowed. 

With the split FSU is now 7-15 on the year, while Salem stands at 9-8. The Bobcat homestand continues on Sunday, March 23 to face Point Park for another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.