Binek Tallies Four Hits, Miller Shines Defensively in Softball Losses to Charleston

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team dropped their Friday doubleheader on the road to Charleston by final scores of 4-3 and 13-3.
 
Game one began with FSU getting just one baserunner through the first three innings off a hit batter. UC looked to strike in the bottom of the first, putting a pair of runners on with a walk and a single, but both were left stranded after a pair of fly outs and a grounder to third. The Golden Eagles didn't have to wait long to get their lead, as in the bottom of the second they got their first four batters to reach on a pair of singles and walks, with another knock up the middle plating three total runs in the frame. Junior Ally Myers came in to get out of further damage, getting a strikeout and groundout to keep it a 3-0 game.
 
The Bobcat bats woke up in the fourth, as senior Hanna Binek reached on an infield single to lead off, followed by junior Arden Miller drawing a walk. Senior Samara Funk ripped a ball into left field that plated Binek and kept both runners in scoring position. Playing some small ball, freshman Bri Russo was able to plate Miller on a sac bunt, while classmate Sage Haller came up with a clutch two-out RBI single to score Funk and tie the game at 3-3.
 
Myers was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the bottom half, with senior Cristina Sommerkamp making a grab at short before Miller made an outstanding diving catch in left, also getting the runner out at third trying to score on the play. Frostburg tried to pull off some two-out magic in the fifth with Binek singling and Miller drawing a walk but a groundout to second ended the inning still in a tie.
 
In the bottom half, it was Charleston's turn to play small ball, with the leadoff batter walking and a pinch runner stealing second. A bunt single and another stolen base put both runners in scoring position, as a sac fly brought home the go-ahead run. Miller made another great play in the field to keep it a one-run deficit, showing off a strong arm to get a runner out at home trying to score from second on a single. That run, however, would be enough for the hosts, as FSU went down in order over the final two innings for the 4-3 final.
 
It seemed as though game two would begin similar to the first, with the Bobcats going down in order to start things off and UC putting multiple runners on during their at-bats. With the bases loaded after back-to-back singles and an error, a failed bunt attempt resulted in the runner at third running into an out at home, while the next batter flied out to end the frame. Frostburg looked for their first lead of the day in the second, with Funk and Russo leading off with singles. Myers took a hit the other way, but a well-run relay by the Golden Eagles got the out at home and a strikeout ended the threat.
 
Charleston was unable to take advantage of a lead-off double in the bottom half after two grounders either side of a Myers strikeout. FSU finally made their offense count in the third, as junior Gracie Nelson, Binek, and Miller all knocked a trio of singles to put a run across. A fielder's choice then put runners on the corners before Russo and junior Olivia Stetler put another pair of hits on the board to plate two more scores and move ahead 3-0.
 
The Golden Eagles wouldn't let the lead last long, as a single and back-to-back doubles immediately brought them within 3-2 still with no outs. A wild pitch and RBI groundout ensued, though Haller was able to get out of the frame on a fielder's choice and groundout to Sommerkamp. Frostburg didn't manage much in the top of the fourth, while UC broke the game open in their trip to the plate. Three walks and a hit by pitch started the inning, as the hosts put six more singles on the board culminating in a ten-run frame and a 13-3 advantage. With the game now in mercy rule territory, Binek added another single up the middle while Miller was hit once again, but a strikeout and line-out double play ended the game with UC taking the sweep.
 
Binek led the offense with four total hits on the day while scoring a pair of runs in the process, as Russo and Funk also finished with multiple hits.
 
With the losses, Frostburg drops to 11-35 on the year, while Charleston improves to 28-14. FSU concludes their regular season on Saturday, April 26, staying on the road to face West Virginia State at 1 p.m. for another doubleheader. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.