Softball Puts 20 Runs Past Cardinals in Pair of Road Victories

WHEELING, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team used a hard fought comeback 8-7 victory in game one and a dominant 12-1 five inning win in game two to conclude their series sweep of Wheeling for the season.

Frostburg saw a minimum of three batters at the plate in their first offensive outing, as with senior Jamie Roberts throwing from the circle in game one, Wheeling opened the game up right away, knocking six hits for four runs to lead 4-0 after the first. The Bobcats knocked their first hits of the day in top half of the second, with senior Ryann Darling and junior Hanna Binek going for back-to-back singles, but were both left on base. Keeping their hit and run streak going, the Cardinals put one more on the board to go up 5-0 after the first two innings of play.

Junior Allyssa Albright went for a double to center field to lead off the third inning, as senior Ellie Buckheit came in to pinch run. Sophomore Gracie Nelson then singled, advancing Buckheit to third, as sophomore Arden Miller then smacked a two-RBI single to left, advancing to second on an error by WU, as both runners scored. Junior Cristina Sommerkamp then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Miller, as FSU brought the game to 5-3. Sophomore Ally Myers came into pitch in the bottom of the third, putting Wheeling down in order thanks to a 6-4-3 double play.

Both teams saw a slow fourth inning, as Myers picked up her first strikeout before the Bobcats erupted for three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth, taking the lead for the first time. Nelson led off with a single to center field and proceeded to steal second, as Miller then walked to put two on for Frostburg. Roberts ripped a single to center as well to load the bases, as a two-RBI single from Sommerkamp scored Nelson and Miller to tie the game at 5-5. Off a new pitcher for WU, junior Samara Funk roped a double to center, scoring senior Brianna Munday, who pinch ran for Roberts, allowing the Bobcats to jump in front 6-5.

The Cardinals battled back to regain the lead in their offensive half of the fifth, smacking three hits and scoring two runs to hold a 7-6 advantage heading into the sixth. Senior Katie Chapple ended the frame on the mound for FSU, getting the final out of the inning. Sophomore Ashlynn Routzahn entered as a pinch hitter to begin the sixth, connecting on a single to center field, with Binek coming in to run the bases. Senior Ava Gnibus then put the ball in play, advancing Binek to second, as a single from Nelson and an error by WU allowed both to score to put Frostburg back ahead 8-7.

Chapple gave up two hits in the bottom of the sixth but stranded both runners to keep FSU on top, tossing a pair of clutch strikeouts in the process. The Bobcats got one runner on in the top of the seventh due to a walk, but that would be all, as Chapple sat the side down 1-2-3 to capture the hard-fought 8-7 win for FSU.

Nelson recorded a single to start off game two for the first hit of the contest but couldn't advance. Senior Syndey Theobald got the start on the mound for the Bobcats, running into some early trouble with runners on second and third with one out, but limiting the damage to just an RBI groundout as WU led 1-0. Frostburg's offense came to life in the second inning, as Routzahn drew a lead off walk, with Sommerkamp knocking a single to left to put two on. Binek then collected a two-RBI double to left center, scoring both Routzahn and Sommerkamp to put FSU up 2-0. Freshman Kylee Piconi continued FSU's spark on offense, adding a single, followed by senior Ava Gnibus drawing a walk to load the bases. Nelson brought Binek and Piconi in to score on a single up the middle, then Miller followed suit, as the Bobcats capped off the innning up 6-1. 

Theobald stranded one runner on in the bottom of the second, as FSU tallied two more runs to their lead in the next half. Sommerkamp led off the third inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch before Binek drew a walk and stole second to put both in scoring position. Piconi drove in Sommerkamp on an RBI groundout, then Gnibus then picked up an RBI as well, sending one right back up the middle and pushing Frostburg ahead 8-1. Theobald kept her dominance going in the bottom of the third, picking up two strikeouts and leaving another on base. Miller knotted the lone hit of the fourth for either team, as Theobald sat WU down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Munday came in to pinch hit to start the fifth, getting on board with a walk, as she advanced to second on a single from Binek. Piconi then tallied another single, loading the bases, as Buckheit came in to pinch hit as well, singled to left field, and collected two RBI as both Munday and Binek came in to score. Nelson then reached base on a fielder's choice, as Miller belted a two-RBI triple to bring in two more runs for FSU, bringing the game to 12-1. Theobald gave up one hit in the bottom of the fifth, but ended the game with a double play, sealing the 12-1 mercy rule victory for the Bobcats in game two.

Nelson led FSU on offense with a total of five hits, five runs, and two RBI, while Miller was right behind her with four hits, two runs, and six RBI. Sommerkamp and Binek each had three hits total, combining for six runs and five RBI, while eight other Bobcats recorded at least one hit. Chapple was credited with the win in game one, bringing her record to 4-4, as Myers, Roberts, and Chapple combined for seven strikeouts in the contest. Theobald picked up her 11th win of the season, tossing another complete game, giving up three hits, one run, and one walk in five innings, while striking out three.

With the sweep, Frostburg improves to 25-16 overall, while Wheeling drops to 9-39. The Bobcats have a quick turnaround, remaining on the road to face West Liberty on Sunday, April
21 for a doubleheader set for 1 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.