Baseball Hangs On in Game Two to Hand #8 ESU First Loss of Season

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Frostburg State Baseball team battled closely with No. 8 East Stroudsburg on Friday, falling in game one 4-3 in extra innings, before hanging on for the 2-1 upset victory in game two. 
 
Looking to start quick, sophomore Jackson Schalick tallied a single to start game one, moving up to third on a sacrifice hit from redshirt freshman CJ Carmichael.  Schalick then took third on a passed ball, but was left on base to begin the game.  Sophomore Jack Ray got the nod from the mound to start things off defensively for Frostburg, giving up no hits in his first appearance, as the inning rounded out with junior Kade Abrisz throwing down to redshirt junior Ben Wieman to catch a runner stealing. 
 
Senior Doyle McNew led off the second with a walk, as Wieman followed by drawing a walk of his own.  Now with two on for the Bobcats, Abrisz tripled in his first plate appearance, knocking McNew and Wieman home for a 2-0 FSU lead.  Ray picked up a strikeout in the bottom half of the inning, leaving two on for East Stroudsburg heading into the third.  Frostburg kept their momentum in their next at-bats, with Carmichael seeing a leadoff single, followed by senior Mikey Guy roping a single as well to send Carmichael to third.  McNew then popped up to shortshop, allowing Carmichael to use his speed to cross home plate for a 3-0 lead. 
 
Ray racked up two more strikeouts from the bump in the bottom of the third, keeping the Bobcats in control.  The Warriors picked up a hit in the fourth, with Guy knotting a single in the fifth as the game remained quiet for two full innings.  Wieman and Abrisz got on the board in the top half of the sixth, as well as sophomore Brain Scott, but FSU left all three on heading into the bottom half of the inning.  Graduate Dan Morgano relieved Ray in the sixth, recording two strikeouts to start his outing, but ESU was able to rally for three hits and three runs with redshirt senior Nate Vermillion coming in to close out the sixth with a 3-3 game. 
 
In their last-bats of the seventh, Frostburg saw a 1-2-3 outing from the plate, as Vermillion left two more Warriors on base to close out the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.  Both teams combined for a three-up three-down eighth, with Vermillion still dealing for the Bobcats.  Frostburg had no luck at the plate in the top of the ninth, as East Stroudsburg put two quick runners on in their at-bats, allowing senior Cael Huyer to come in to pitch for FSU.  With bases loaded, East Stroudsburg drew the game-winning walk to give them the 4-3 comeback win in game one. 
 
To begin game two, Guy recorded a hit but was left stranded, as freshman Zach Dodson was placed on the mound to throw for FSU. Although Dodson gave up a walk and two hits, the Bobcats got out of the inning to keep the game scoreless after one.  With one out in the top of the second, sophomore Ryan Bouma hit the ball up the middle to record a single, as Wieman was then walked to place runners on first and second, but the Warriors were able to get out the jam.  Looking to take that momentum into their at-bats of the inning, ESU was laid down in order by Dodson. 
 
McNew smashed a single to begin the fourth, recording another hit for Frostburg, as Bouma was then walked, as another pair of Bobcats were left on base.  East Stroudsburg had no answer for Dodson on the mound, seeing another hitless inning.  Junior Jake Holler drew a leadoff walk to begin action in the fifth, advancing to second after Schalick put the ball in play.  Carmichael was then walked, as Holler proceeded to steal third.  Now with runners on the corners with one out, Guy grounded out to shortstop, allowing Holler to come home for the first score of the game.  Graduate Randy Steen then put the ball in play, allowing Carmichael to score for a 2-0 FSU lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. 
 
Dodson walked two and struck out two before being relieved by senior Jacob McDonald in the bottom of the inning. A double to center field allowed ESU to get on the board in response for a 2-1 game.  With two on, McDonald caught the batter swinging for a much needed strikeout to end the inning.  Bouma saw a triple in the start of the sixth, but FSU was unable to add anything else to their score.  Holding on to their one run lead, Frostburg's defense was on high alert, creating two quick outs, as McDonald recorded a flyout to end the inning to send the game into the final inning. 
 
In their last-at-bats of the seventh, Frostburg saw a 1-2-3 outing from the plate, as defensively, McDonald remained on the mound in hopes of closing the game.  The Warriors put two on with one out, as runners advanced to second and third as ESU put the ball in play again.  Now with two outs and the tying run on third, McDonald forced an infield fly to wrap up the game with the Bobcats coming out on top 2-1. 
 
Guy led the offense with three total hits on the day and one RBI. Abrisz and Bouma both tallied a pair of hits each, with the former picking up two RBI.  Frostburg's pitching staff combined for 12 K's on the day, as Dodson improves to 3-0 on the season after receiving the win in game two, with McDonald being credited with the save.
 
With the split, Frostburg stands at 7-3 on the season, while East Stroudsburg looks at an overall record of 11-1. The Bobcats take on ESU once more on Saturday, March 8 at 12 PM for a single nine inning game.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.