Chapple, Stetler Help Lead Softball to Split With Hilltoppers

WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team split their Sunday road doubleheader with West Liberty, taking game one 5-1, but falling in a close 6-5 score in game two.

Frostburg started game one off with a bang, as sophomore Arden Miller sent a solo shot over the fence for a quick 1-0 lead for the Bobcats. Senior Katie Chapple got the nod from the circle to start the day defensively for FSU, giving up no hits in her first outing. Freshman Kylee Piconi knotted a single in the top half of the second, with West Liberty earning their first hit of the day in the second, as Chapple struck out two to leave two on. The Bobcats stayed quiet on offense in the third, as the Hilltoppers went for two hits to tie the game at 1-1, while Chapple picked up two more strikeouts.

Both teams saw a hitless fourth, as sophomore Gracie Nelson got on base with a single up the middle in the fifth but was left on. Chapple gave up one hit to WLU in the fifth, stranding the runner, as Frostburg scored two runs in the top half of the sixth to take the lead. Junior Cristina Sommerkamp sent a double down the left field line to kick off the inning, as junior Samara Funk got on by drawing a walk and junior Hanna Binek reached on an error by West Liberty, as Sommerkamp was thrown out at home trying to score on the play. With two outs on the board, sophomore Ashlynn Routzahn saved the frame with a pinch-hit two-RBI single up the middle to drive in Funk and Binek to put FSU ahead 3-1.

Chapple kept the Hilltoppers quiet in the bottom of the sixth, as in the top of the seventh, the Bobcats added two more runs once again. Nelson singled through the left side to start the inning, advancing to second on a groundout from Miller, and coming home to score on an RBI single by senior Jamie Roberts. Senior Ellie Buckheit came in to pinch run for Roberts, advancing to second on a flyout by Sommerkamp, and coming home on an RBI double from sophomore Olivia Stetler. Chapple walked one and forced three popouts to end game one, allowing Frostburg to take the 5-1 win.

Nelson led off game two with a triple, but FSU was unable to bring her in to score after three straight outs. The Hilltoppers got their offense started right away, smacking five hits for four runs in their first offensive outing to jump in front 4-0. The Bobcats fought back right away to tie things up at 4-4, with Stetler getting things going with a two-run bomb to cut Frostburg's deficit in half. Piconi then knotted a single, advancing to third on a double from junior Allyssa Albright, with both runners coming in to score on a two-RBI double to left from Miller. Senior Sydney Theobald, throwing in game two, left two on base in the bottom of the inning to keep the score tied at 4-4 heading into the third.

Both teams saw a quick frame, with WLU getting the only hit, as Theobald stranded the runner. Albright connected on a single to right in the fourth, with West Liberty knocking a single
in their at-bats as well, with Theobald leaving the runner on once again. The Hilltoppers jumped back in front 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth off one hit and two errors by the Bobcats. FSU's offense was quiet once again in the top of the sixth, with WLU picking up another hit before heading into Frostburg's last chance at the plate. Binek came in to pinch hit, collecting a single, with Nelson coming in to run. Miller was able to reach on a fielder's choice with Nelson moving to second, then Roberts singled to load the bases, as Buckheit once again came in to pinch run. Funk sent an RBI single the other way to score Nelson, but Miller was thrown out at home trying to tie the game. With two outs, the Bobcat comeback fell just short, as a line out to second ended game two 6-5.

Nelson and Roberts led the offense for Frostburg, tallying three hits each, with the former scoring two runs and the latter credited with an RBI. Miller, Stetler, Piconi, Funk, and Albright all collected a pair of hits on the day, with Setler leading the way on three runs driven in. Chapple earned her fifth win of the season with the complete game victory in game one, giving up only four hits and one run while striking out four.

With the split, Frostburg moves to 26-17 on the season, while West Liberty goes to 17-29. The Bobcats return home for a midweek doubleheader, welcoming in Bowie State on Wednesday, April 24 at 2 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.