Softball Season Comes to a Close With Narrow Loss to West Liberty

TROUTVILLE, Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team saw their season come to a close in the second round of the MEC Tournament with a 2-1 loss to West Liberty on Thursday afternoon.
 
Senior Katie Chapple got the start from the circle to begin the game, working an efficient 1-2-3 first inning. In the bottom half, sophomore Gracie Nelson led off with a single though was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice from junior Samara Funk, as juniors Hanna Binek and Allyssa Albright drew two-out walks to load the bases, but a grounder to second ended the threat without a score.
 
Chapple again set the Hilltoppers down in order in the second, then was given a lead as senior Ava Gnibus singled into left, coming all the way around to score after Nelson reached on an error that plated the first run of the game.
 
WLU immediately responded with a lead-off single, sacrifice bunt, and a Bobcat error in similar fashion, tying the game at 1-1. Neither team was able to generate much offense over the next couple innings, as Chapple twice worked her way out of allowing runners on first and second to keep the tie contest going. In the bottom of the fifth, Funk and senior Jamie Roberts each worked two-out walks and advanced on a wild pitch, with Binek loading the bases on yet another free pass, but another groundout left three on for the second time.
 
West Liberty broke through in the top of the sixth, with back-to-back one-out doubles putting a pair of runners in scoring position, as a sac fly out to right gave them their first lead of the day at 2-1. Just one hit in the bottom half for Frostburg came to nothing with the runner left stranded, then Chapple once again worked around a couple singles in the top of the seventh to bring FSU up in their last at-bats.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Funk and Roberts both worked one-out walks to put the winning run on the basepaths, but a groundout and fly out to right ended the game with the Hilltoppers coming out ahead narrowly 2-1.
 
Nelson, Gnibus, and sophomore Olivia Stetler were the lone Bobcats to record hits in the contest, while Funk, Roberts, and Binek all walked twice. Chapple allowed just one earned run on six hits while striking out a pair.
 
With the loss, Frostburg's record ends at 29-20, while West Liberty improves to 19-33 and advances to face Fairmont State in another elimination game.