CARY, NC – The Frostburg State Baseball team defeated No. 23 Goldey-Beacom on Friday evening in their nine-inning game by a score of 5-1.

GBC started the game with a bang, as the second batter sent one over the fence to take the lead 1-0. Both teams went scoreless in the second, though FSU loaded the bases with no outs, but weren't able to capitalize after three straight strikeouts. Then in the bottom of the third, junior Randy Steen reached first on a walk, got to second on a wild pitch, and tagged up to third on a fly-out by senior Ethan Kiple. He then tried to steal home, but Goldey-Beacom were alert to it to clear the bases. A single hit by junior Danny Estrada put the Bobcats back on the base paths, with junior Mikey Guy then drawing a walk to keep the rally going. Junior Cy Probst hit a double into left, sending Estrada and Guy across home for a 2-1 Frostburg lead. Still keeping the inning alive, freshman Ryan Bouma was patient at the plate, earning a walk, followed by a passed ball, advancing Probst up to third. After a walk to freshman Jackson Shalick, another wild pitch plated Probst, with the inning finally ending with a strikeout as FSU led 3-1. 

Having given up the early homer, junior starter Jacob McDonald recovered immensely, working all the way through the sixth inning with limited opportunities for the Lightning to score. The offense picked up some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Schalick began with a one-out triple to center field. A pop out kept him in place, then Wieman earned an important two-out walk, allowing Steen hit a hard ground ball up the middle, advancing Schalick home and Weiman to third. A slow reaction from GBC meant that Steen stole second, followed by a wild pitch that plated Wieman to score with the inning ending at 5-1. 

On in relief of McDonald, freshman Jack Ray was brilliant out of the pen, working around a one-out walk to strike out the side in the top of the seventh. FSU was sent down in order in the bottom half, then Ray came out again in the eighth, setting the Lightning down 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts and fly out to left. Shalick hit a one-out single into left and stole second to try and get some more runs on the board in the bottom of the frame, but a line out and strike out ended the threat. Looking to close things out, head coach Anthony Williams turned to Kiple on the mound, as he easily put Goldey-Beacom down in order to cap the 5-1 victory. 

Steen, Schalick and Probst ended with two hits each, with Steen earning an RBI and Probst plating two. Earning his first win in a Bobcat uniform, McDonald turned in six innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one run while striking out nine. Ray and Kiple combined for three innings of work, with just one baserunner between the two and seven of nine batters retired by K's. 

With the conclusion of this game Frostburg moves to an overall record of 1-3 while Goldey-Beacom falls to 3-2. The Bobcats are back in action on Saturday, February 24 as they take on Clarion for a 2 pm start time from the USA Baseball Complex. For more information visit frostburgsports.com.