Bats, Solid Pitching Allows Baseball to Sweep First Day of Series with Salem

NUTTER FORT, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Baseball team swept the first day of their series with Salem (WV) by scores of 6-3 and 10-5 on Saturday. 
 
Redshirt freshman CJ Carmichael was the first base runner for either team after drawing a walk, as senior Mikey Guy quickly ripped the first hit of the day with a two-run shot over the outfield fence for a 2-0 Frostburg lead after the first half inning.  Senior Patrick Bauer got the start on the mound to begin the series, picking up a strikeout and leaving one on in his first outing.  Both teams went 1-2-3 at the plate in their next appearance on offense with Bauer knotting another K.  Sophomore Jackson Schalick earned a walk to leadoff the third, proceeding to steal second right after, but the Bobcats were unable to extend their lead.  Salem tied the game in the bottom half of the third with a homer and a sacrifice fly for a 2-2 score after three. 
 
FSU took the lead back right away to start the fourth, as senior Cy Probst reached on an infield error from the Tigers, setting up redshirt sophomore Tiernan Daly to come in and pinch run.  Junior Kade Abrisz then sent out a double, advancing Daly to third, as an RBI single from freshman Manny Hall brought in Daly to put Frostburg back in front.  Sophomore Brian Scott put down a sacrifice bunt to score Abrisz from third, leaving the Bobcats in control 4-2 heading into the bottom of the inning. 
 
Bauer faced the minimum in the bottom half of the fourth, as Guy got on board with a single in the fifth, trotting home after a two-run bomb from sophomore Ryan Bouma to increase FSU's lead to 6-2.  SU shot out another homer in their at-bats of the fifth to cut their deficit in half, as Scott was the lone Bobcat to reach base in the sixth, leaving the score at 6-3.  Bauer again went three-up three-down in the sixth, striking out the side in Salem's last-bats to capture the complete 6-3 victory in game one. 
 
Frostburg started with a three-up three-down scenario in their first looks at offense in game two, as sophomore Jack Ray made his way out to the bump to throw for the Bobcats.  Ray racked up two quick outs, including a K, but SU was able to strike first with a two-run homer.  FSU quickly got their bats going in the second inning, working to tie the game as Bouma led off with a double and immediately came around to score on an RBI double from junior Jake Holler.  Redshirt junior Ben Wieman then tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single that scored Holler.  Ray found his groove in the bottom of the inning, recording another strikeout and going 1-2-3 in the outing. 
 
Hall was walked to start the third, advancing to second on a SU balk.  Guy put Frostburg in the lead after an RBI double, sitting the game at 3-2.  Salem worked to retake the lead in the bottom of the inning, seeing two hits for three runs and a 5-3 lead.  Once again, the Bobcats had a response, as senior Doyle McNew reached first on an error from the Tigers and moved to third on a double from Wieman.  Abrisz then sent out another double for FSU, clearing the bases and scoring both to tie the game at 5-5.  Hall recorded a triple to bring in Abrisz then from second, moving the Bobcats in front once again, this time with a 6-5 edge. 
 
Junior Joe Pippin came in to throw in the bottom of the fourth, going 1-2-3 with a strikeout in his first showing.  McNew started the rally for Frostburg in the top of the fifth, sending out a two-out single with Daly coming in to pinch run.  Wieman drew a walk to move Daly to second, with the latter coming home on another RBI double from Abrsiz to push the score to 7-5.  Pippin collected another three-up three-down inning from the bump in the bottom of the fifth, seeing two more strikeouts as well. 
 
Carmichael singled to start off the sixth, stealing second and moving all the way to third after a wild pitch.  Guy saw another RBI on the day after roping a double, as Bouma was then walked to put runners on first and second for Frostburg.  Holler showed a single to load the bases for the Bobcats, as Probst put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice, as Guy was able to come in and score for a 9-5 contest. 
 
Pippin struck out one more Tiger before his day ended, as redshirt senior Nate Vermillion was credited with the final out of the inning, recording another K for FSU.  Scott doubled to start the last inning of offense for the Bobcats, reaching third on an error from SU.  Carmichael showed a bunt single to score Scott to move the game to 10-5.  Vermillion gave up one hit in the bottom of the seventh, leaving two on to leave the score at 10-5 in favor of Frostburg in game two. 
 
Guy paved the offensive effort for FSU with four hits, four RBI, and three runs, while Abrisz was next with three knocks, three RBI, and one run.  Five other Bobcats recorded a pair of hits on the day to round out offense for the Bobcats.  Bauer threw his second complete game of the season in game one, picking up his eighth win of the year giving up five hits, just two earned runs, and one walk while striking out eight.  Pippin was given the win in game two for his sixth of the season, striking out four and giving up just one hit in 2.2 innings. 
 
With the sweep, Frostburg jumps to 30-12 on the season, while Salem goes to 20-21.  The Bobcats continue their series with the Tigers tomorrow, April 27 with the first pitch set for 1 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.