Kiple's Homer Not Enough in Baseball's Opening Game of NCAA Regional

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Frostburg State Baseball team dropped their opening contest of the NCAA Regional Tournament, falling 3-1 to East Stroudsburg Thursday afternoon. 
 
Freshman Jackson Schalick got the game started with a single through the left side, as East Stroudsburg would then sit Frostburg down in order, stranding Schalick on base.  Junior Jacob McDonald got the go-ahead from the mound for the Bobcats, retiring the side with three straight outs, including a strikeout, in his first look at ESU's offense.  Freshman Ryan Bouma ripped a double to center field to lead off the second, as junior Randy Steen and senior Justin Jiminez knocked singles, but FSU left two on base headed into the bottom of the inning.  McDonald gave up a hit and then recorded an error on a failed pickoff attempt, but senior Ethan Kiple recovered and threw over to junior Mikey Guy at third to tag the runner, leading to three straight outs to push the game to the third.
 
As the game stood scoreless in the top of the third, Kiple recorded a homer over the left field fence, putting Frostburg on the board first 1-0.  McDonald saw another 1-2-3 bottom half of an inning, keeping the Bobcats in the lead.  Both teams saw a three-up, three-down fourth inning, as Schalick got on board with a triple in the fifth but was left on base once again.  ESU was able to get some offense in their at-bats of the fifth, as an RBI single tied the game at one apiece. 
 
Junior Danny Estrada put a single into right in FSU's look at offensive in the sixth, but was left stranded.  East Stroudsburg took a 2-1 lead after two hits, causing junior Nate Vermillion to come in and pitch, getting two outs to end the inning.  Junior Ben Wieman and Schalick both smacked singles in the top of the seventh, but the Bobcats were unable to get anything else going.  The Warriors tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning off a sacrifice fly, advancing their lead to 3-1. 
 
Kiple drew a leadoff walk to start the eighth, as junior Cael Huyer and graduate Daniel Morgano combined to close out the bottom of the inning, leaving Frostburg to their last at-bats.  FSU saw a 1-2-3 inning from the plate, closing the game with East Stroudsburg on top 3-1. 
 
Schalick led Frostburg with a 3-for-4 day from the plate, as six other Bobcats recorded a hit, and Kiple earning the lone run and RBI.  McDonald threw 5.1 innings, giving up four hits and two runs, while striking out one. 
 
With the loss, FSU moves to 37-15 overall, while ESU improves to 42-12.  The Bobcats will play in an 11 AM elimination game tomorrow, with East Stroudsburg playing in the 2 PM winners bracket game, as both teams await to see the outcome of the matchup between No. 3 Millersville and No. 6 Seton Hill game.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.