Routzahn's Clutch Single, Donaldson's Save Help Softball to Split with Wheeling

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Softball team snapped their losing streak at home on Friday with a comeback 6-5 game two victory over Wheeling after dropping game one 2-0.
 
In the circle to begin the series, freshman Izabella Donaldson started off by allowing a walk with a passed ball moving the runner to second. The Meyersdale product swiftly ended any scoring threat, getting each of the next three batters she saw to swing and miss for a trio of strikeouts and a scoreless first. In the bottom half, junior Gracie Nelson drew a lead-off walk but was thrown out trying to advance to third on a sac bunt by senior Hanna Binek, clearing the bases as another groundout ended the frame.
 
Donaldson worked around a two-out error in the second as her strikeout count grew to five, while freshman Bri Russo got the game's first hit on a double over the left fielder's head but would be left stranded on a fly out and strikeout looking. Another walk in the third gave WU their third baserunner of the day but junior Arden Miller helped out Donaldson by making a great catch in left to end the inning with no runs scoring. Both sides went down in order during their next at-bats, as a walk, fielder's choice, and Russo single put a pair on for FSU in the bottom of the fourth. A deep fly out to center moved both runners into scoring position but the Cardinals got out of the jam with a clean grounder to third.
 
After a fly out and Donaldson's sixth K of the day, Wheeling finally broke up the no-hit bid in the fifth with a lined single into right but still couldn't score after a routine groundout to Binek. Freshman Sage Haller ran out an infield single with one out in the bottom half before stealing second but still Frostburg couldn't capitalize on being in scoring position with a strikeout and fly out. Each team picked up a hit in the sixth with no further damage, as Haller earned her third knock of the day before a lineout ended the frame.
 
For the first time in the game, WU put multiple runners on the bags in the seventh, working a lead-off walk and a two-out single. Donaldson maintained calmness on the mound, getting a backwards K for her ninth of the day to give FSU a chance to walk it off. The Bobcats were gifted a baserunner to start their at-bats off a Cardinal error, but on attempting to advance the runner with a bunt, the ball was popped up and caught with a throw to first turning a double play to end the threat.
 
Heading into extras, Wheeling drew another walk to begin the eighth inning, moving the runner up on a sacrifice. A strikeout seemed as if it would lead to another scoreless frame, however a walk, wild pitch, and infield single were enough to score a run, with an errant throw on the play plating another as WU took a 2-0 lead. Nelson was able to reach with an infield single to lead off, then a routine grounder to short appeared as if it would end the game, but the throw went wide, keeping the Bobcats alive. The rally wouldn't last long, as a fly out to right gave the visitors their two-run win.
 
Wheeling had no thought of being no-hit in game two, taking a lead-off single from junior Ally Myers to start things out. She was able to recover, however, working a fielder's choice, foul out, and fielding a grounder herself to finish the inning. Binek worked a one-out walk in the bottom half and moved to second after a failed pick-off from the catcher, while Miller reached on a fielder's choice to put a pair of runners on. Both would be left stranded again, with the Cardinals getting a fly out and pop up.
 
Myers threw an efficient 1-2-3 second, then tried to help her own cause with a one-out single in the bottom. Senior Cristina Sommerkamp followed with a liner up the middle but the pattern of FSU's offense continued with a foul out and groundout keeping things scoreless. WU went down in order in the third, as Binek poked a ball the other way to start Frostburg's turn at the plate, being left on again following two flies to right and a grounder to second. Wheeling was able to line a double just inside third with two outs in the fourth but Myers tossed a grounder fielded by Binek to stay at 0-0.
 
Junior Olivia Stetler tried to spark some life into the offense by smacking a double into the gap in left-center to begin the bottom of the frame, as she was pinch-run for by freshman Kylie Pytlak. Myers put a liner back where it came from, as the center fielder had the ball go right through her legs, plating Pytlak and putting the former at third with no outs. WU ensured there would be no more damage, however, as three straight strikeouts kept the score at just 1-0.
 
The Cardinals answered right back in the fifth, as after the first batter grounded right to Sommerkamp, they drew a walk, double, and single to tie the game at 1-1. Nelson made a nice catch in center in hopes of ending the inning on the next batter, but instead Amber Morgan homered to straightaway center to get to a 4-1 lead. Wheeling tried to add on some extra runs with a single and walk off of Haller, who had come on in relief, but she was able to get out of trouble with a fly ball to center.
 
FSU was still determined to keep themselves in the game in the bottom half, as Binek and senior Samara Funk drew walks either side of a pop up. Russo racked up her fourth hit of the day to load the bases, bringing up Stetler to smash a ball into right-center, scoring Funk and Binek while putting Russo at third. Myers followed with the third walk of the inning, though a fielder's choice to third from Sommerkamp got an out at home with two outs now on the board. Junior pinch hitter Ashlyn Routzahn stepped in and delivered in a big way, looping a ball into center for a single, then as Morgan tried to make a diving catch, had it bounce off her glove as all three runners came in for a stunning 6-4 lead.
 
Haller walked the first batter she saw in the sixth before getting a strikeout and back-to-back groundouts to keep her team in the lead. Frostburg went down in order in their at-bats, as the Cardinals stepped to the plate with their last chance to keep the game alive. On the first pitch, Ava Kresak ripped a hit through the left side, though she would be thrown out at second on a nice fielder's choice decision from Haller. Two wild pitches and a walk, however, put runners at the corners and forced another pitching change. Donaldson was entrusted to get her team the win, as Funk helped her out by fielding a grounder and diving to first to trade an out for a run, still holding a narrow lead. After falling behind in the count 3-1, Donaldson was able to get a foul tip before throwing a high fastball that was swung through for a game-ending strikeout and a 6-5 victory.
 
Russo led the offense with four hits on the day, while Stetler and Myers each added a pair while combining for three RBI. Donaldson threw 8.2 combined innings with just the two runs allowed while adding 11 strikeouts. Haller picked up her first career win in game two, while Donaldson earned her second collegiate save.
 
With the split, Frostburg moves to 11-31 on the year, while Wheeling is now 10-38. FSU next plays West Liberty in their home finale on Saturday, April 19 with their doubleheader set to begin at 11 a.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.