MEC Baseball Preview: #1N Frostburg State vs #3N Wheeling

CHARLESTON. W. Va. – The Frostburg State Baseball team is set to face Wheeling in the second round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament on Thursday evening.
 
How They Got Here
As the No. 1 seed in the North Division, Frostburg sports a 36-13 overall record with a 24-4 record in conference play. In the first round against West Virignia State, the Bobcats struggled at the plate in an 8-1 loss, forcing them into an elimination game against their Division rivals. 
 
Wheeling enters with an even record of 25-25, with a 13-15 mark in the MEC earning them the three seed in the North. Similarly to FSU, they couldn't generate much offense in a 10-0 loss to a South opponent, falling to defending champions Charleston (WV) in the first game. 
 
The Matchup
The sides are evenly matched with an 8-8 record in the all-time series, although Frostburg took three of four this season in Wheeling to hold the yearly advantage. 
 
The Players  
The Bobcats have strong suits all over the field, starting with MEC Player of the Year, senior Ethan Kiple, who leads both Frostburg and the MEC in both doubles (17) and runs (54), while batting .389 for 63 hits and continuing to lead the team in home runs (16) and RBI (56).  Frostburg also sports the MEC Freshman of the Year Ryan Bouma, who put up excellent numbers in his first collegiate season, showing a .370 batting average for 54 hits and four home runs, while tying Kiple's lead on the team and in the conference with 17 doubles.  Bouma also scored 34 runs, knocked 47 RBI, and drew 31 walks.  Throughout their offensive lineup, FSU had four players receive All-MEC honors, with juniors Cy Probst (.319 batting average, 29 hits, seven doubles, 13 runs, 14 RBI), Danny Estrada (.353 batting average, 53 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 47 runs, 39 RBI), and Randy Steen (.394 batting average, team-high and conference-high 65 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 41 runs, 41 RBI) were all named to the All-MEC First Team, while junior Mikey Guy (team-high .401 batting average, 63 hits, 13 doubles, seven home runs, 48 runs, 41 RBI) was named to the All-MEC Second Team.  From the mound, junior Patrick Bauer earned a spot on the All-MEC First Team with a team-best and conference-best ERA of 1.49, for the second best in all of Division II.  Bauer holds a 6-1 record with 48.1 innings pitched, while leading the team in strikeouts with 51 and leading both Frostburg and the MEC in opposing batting average with .171.  Senior Max Proctor (All-MEC Second Team) and junior Jacob McDonald (All-MEC Honorable Mention) round out the honors for starting Bobcat pitchers with the former posting a 3.98 ERA and a 6-1 record as well, throwing 54.1 innings, capturing a complete game shutout and 41 strikeouts during the regular season, while the latter tossed 56.2 innings with a 4.13 ERA, striking out 44 with a record of 8-1 for most wins on the team and in the conference.  Kiple, a relief pitcher as well, earned All-MEC Second team honors from the bump with 12 appearances for 15.1 innings pitched, picking up a win, four saves, and 16 strikeouts.
 
The Cardinals sport some power offensively in First Team selection Braden Killens, who leads the team in nearly every offensive category, including hits (57), doubes (12), home runs (16), RBI (54), and runs scored (47). Joining him in All-Conference selections are Honorable Mentions Scott Kondroik, second on the roster in homers (8) and RBI (34), and Aidan Willard, who leads the team in walks (32), ranks third in hits (51) and is second in on-base percentage (.467). The pitching staff is led by First Team honoree Kenny Jinks, the team's leader in strikeouts with 75 and innings pitched at 69.2. Kody McCarley and Nicholas Martinez earned Honorable Mention nod, having combined for 10 wins and 92 K's throughout the year. 
 
The Rest of the Field
In Thursday's early game, the two seeds from each division, Fairmont State and Glenville State, will begin their Tournament journeys, while the winners of Wednesday's contests, UC and WVSU, have advanced to Friday and await the results of that game. 
 
2024 MEC Baseball Championship Seedings
NORTH: #1 Frostburg State, #2 Fairmont State, #3 Wheeling
SOUTH: #1 Charleston, #2 Glenville State, #3 West Virginia State
 
Wednesday, May 8 – FIRST ROUND
#1S Charleston vs #3N Wheeling – UC wins 10-0
#1N Frostburg State vs #3S West Virginia State – WVSU wins 8-1
 
Thursday, May 9
#2N Fairmont State vs #2S Glenville State – 3:30 p.m.
#1N Frostburg State vs #3N Wheeling - 7 p.m.
 
Friday, May 10
Charleston vs Loser of FAIR/GSU - 12 p.m.
West Virginia State vs Winner of FAIR/GSU - 3:30 p.m.