Softball Falls in Road Series to Wheeling

WHEELING, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team finished up their MEC doubleheader with Wheeling on Tuesday, falling in game one on Sunday 5-2 before the game was called due to weather and dropping game two today with a final of 7-6.
 
In the first contest played on Sunday, freshman Bri Russo built on her string of strong performances at the plate, lining a one-out single into left in the top of the first, her 12th hit in the past seven games. A fly out and strikeout would leave her stranded, however, freshman starter Julia Meagher sat the Cardinals down in order in the bottom half. A pair of strikeouts kept FSU quiet in the second, allowing WU to take an early lead during their at-bats. Six of the first seven batters all reached base on three singles and three walks, plating four total runs for the hosts in the frame.
 
The Bobcats were able to pull a run back in the third, as senior Cristina Sommerkamp drew a lead-off walk before moving to third on a bunt single from junior Gracie Nelson followed by a Wheeling error. Russo picked up a sac fly with a ball into right that scored Sommerkamp, then senior Samara Funk kept the inning alive with a two-out single, but a fly ball to left ended the inning with the Cardinals still leading 4-1. Neither team managed much offense during their next trips to the plate, as junior Ally Myers worked through a clean inning having come on in relief during the second. Freshman Lauren Homa was the only runner to reach base for either team, drawing a two-out walk in the fourth.
 
Once again in the bottom half, WU used some small ball to add an insurance run. A lead-off single and stolen base immediately put a runner in scoring position, with an RBI single making things 5-1 one batter later. Some great defense in left by junior Arden Miller prevented another run from scoring, as she threw down a runner trying to score from left field to keep it a four-run deficit. Russo tried to give the Bobcats some life in the top of the fifth with a solo shot into left, but that would be the only offense of the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Wheeling drew a pair of walks and a single with two outs to load the bases before the game was called due to pouring rain, ending the contest with the Cardinals taking the game 5-2.
 
Senior Hanna Binek started things off on Tuesday in game two with a walk, setting herself up to steal second.  Russo then collected another hit in the series, roping a double to left to get Frostburg on the board first.  Funk followed right behind with a double of her own to bring in Russo, as Miller then next up to bat, smacked one over the center field fence for an early 4-0 lead for the Bobcats.  Freshman Izabella Donaldson took the mound to throw for FSU, getting a Cardinal to go down swinging in their first look at offense, as Wheeling was able to rally for two runs to cut their deficit in half after one. 
 
Russo started off the second with walk, advancing to second off a single from Funk.  Miller then grounded out to advance both runners, as junior Olivia Stetler was credited with an RBI after she put the ball in play.  Donaldson recorded another K in the second, but WU was able to belt two more hits for another run to bring the game to 5-3.  Nelson saw the lone hit for either squad in the third, as Donaldson pitched a 1-2-3 outing in the bottom half of the inning.  In the first offensive look of the fourth, Miller was the only Bobcat to reach base in the top of the inning, as Donaldson started her outing with two more strikeouts.  With two outs, Wheeling was able to rally for three runs to cut in front 6-5, with Myers coming in to finish out the inning from the circle.
 
Freshman Zoey Marinello started the fifth with a double to left, but FSU left two on to keep the score the same.  Myers gave up one hit in the bottom half of the inning, recording a strikeout to make up for it and push the game into the sixth.  Once again, Miller was the lone runner on base for Frostburg, as the Bobcats were unable to collect a hit.  The Cardinals were able to load the bases in their at-bats of the inning, but Myers and her defense were able to get out of the jam, leaving three on and giving up just one run to make the score 7-5.  In their final chances, Marinello led off the seventh with another double, with freshman Ava Fair coming in to pinch run.  Fair was knocked in on an RBI double to right from Sommerkamp to bring the Bobcats within one.  With now one on and one out, FSU was unable to secure the tying run, dropping the contest 7-6. 
 
Funk and Russo led Frostburg over the two games with three hits each, while Nelson and Marinello both knocked a pair.  Donaldson recorded six K's in her start in game two. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 8-22 on the season, while Wheeling goes to 6-28.  The Bobcats stay on the road for their next contest, facing Point Park on Saturday, April 5 at 1 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.