Softball Drops Road Doubleheader to West Liberty

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team lost their MEC doubleheader against West Liberty on Saturday by scores of 10-1 and 2-1. 
 
Frostburg started off things right away as senior Hanna Binek sent a single through the left-hand side, as freshman Brianna Russo followed right behind her with a single of her own, putting two on for the Bobcats.  Binek made her way to third on a flyout to center from junior Arden Miller, before stealing home for a 1-0 lead.  Freshman Izabella Donaldson got the start in the circle in game one, getting the first out of the inning off a flyout, before West Liberty worked quickly for a 4-1 game off of five hits in their first at-bats. 
 
FSU put two on in the top of the second, as junior Ally Myers drew a leadoff walk and freshman Zoey Marinello knocked a double, but both were left on base.  Donaldson gave a hit and a walk in the bottom of the inning, securing three straight outs to end the second with two Hilltoppers left on base.  Senior Samara Funk reached base on a single in the third, with Miller joining her on the basepaths after being hit by a pitch, but again Frostburg was unable to get anything going.  WLU took one more run off Donaldson in the bottom half of the third, causing Myers to come in to pitch with a 5-1 score.  West Liberty quickly increased their lead to 10-1, allowing freshman Julie Meagher to come and record the final out to end the inning. 
 
Sophomore Morgan Gross singled up the middle in the fourth, as junior Gracie Nelson reached base on a walk, but were both left on base.  Meagher gave up just one hit to begin the bottom of the fourth, stranding the Hilltopper to give FSU one more chance at the plate.  Russo started off the fifth with a double to left center, but West Liberty was able to turn a double play to end the game at 10-1 in five.
 
Sophomore Katie Healy got game two going with single down left field, as two Bobcats were left on base after their first at-bats.  Senior Kate Chapple threw in for FSU in game two, giving up a leadoff hit to start, but left the runner on base.  Freshman Sage Haller knocked a single to the left in the top of the second, as Chapple stranded two more Hilltoppers in the bottom of the inning.  Marinello was credited with the lone hit of the third for Frostburg, as with two on base once more, Chapple left them stranded after West Liberty was able to score a run for a 1-0 lead after three. 
 
Neither team saw a hit in the fourth, with WLU seeing a single in the bottom of the fifth but was unable to capitalize.  The Bobcats reached base off an error in the top of the sixth, all before the Hilltoppers saw two more hits in the bottom of the inning, working themselves to a 2-0 advantage.  In their last at-bats, Binek led off with a double to left center, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly from Miller, but FSU was unable to do anymore damage, dropping game two 2-1. 
 
Binek, Marinello, and Russo all finished with a pair of hits on the day, as Binek scored one run.  Chapple threw her third complete game in game two, giving up six hits, two runs, and two walks in six innings. 
 
With the losses, Frostburg falls to 8-20 on the season, while West Liberty improves to 16-14.  The Bobcats return to action tomorrow, March 30 when they travel to face Wheeling at 12 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.