Tigers Use Walk-Off in Game One, Two Big Innings in Game Two to Sweep Softball

BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Softball team suffered a pair of losses to Salem (WV) on Tuesday by final scores of 2-1 and 8-4.
 
FSU started game one with junior Gracie Nelson and senior Samara Funk each drawing walks, then junior Olivia Stetler knocked a two-out RBI blooper into right field to go up 1-0. After a lead-off walk and sac bunt in the bottom half put a runner in scoring position, freshman Izabella Donaldson got an important full count, check swing strikeout followed by a nice grab at first by Funk to keep the lead. The Bobcats went down in order in the second, while the Tigers continued to play small ball, earning another walk and sacrifice, this time the runner speeding around to third on the play. A passed ball allowed the runner to score, with another walk bringing junior Ally Myers into the circle. She was able to get a grounder for an out then was helped out by the defense, as a single into right was fielded by freshman Bri Russo, who started a great relay to get the runner out at third, ending the inning at 1-1.
 
Nelson slapped a one-out single into left and stole second to put herself in scoring position, however a sharp liner to short and a soft grounder to second left her stranded. Salem put the first two batters on via singles but a fly ball to center and a lined double play to second kept the game tied. FSU's at-bats came to an end in similar fashion during the fourth, as senior Hannah Binek roped a single into left-center but was caught out at first on another drive to short. Myers was able to sit SU down in order in the bottom half with a pair of grounders to Binek and a strikeout.
 
The Bobcats tried to get some two-out magic going in the fifth, as senior Cristina Sommerkamp drew a walk and Nelson legged out an infield single, but a fly out to left kept the runners from advancing. Salem continued to put traffic on the bases with a one-out single and error getting a pair of runners on, but Binek fielded a line drive at third and Myers cleanly threw to first on a grounder back to her to end the threat. The only baserunner for either team in the sixth came on a Stetler single, with Myers working three straight groundouts in the bottom half.
 
Neither side managed to do much in the seventh, taking things into extra innings, where FSU went down in order in the eighth. After two quick outs, Salem tried to put together a winning rally with back-to-back base knocks, but Myers held firm with a strikeout to take things into the ninth. Binek drew a lead-off walk, moving to second on a sac bunt and third on a groundout, but was left on following a foul out.  The Tigers also put the first runner on with a single into left, moving to second on a tapper back to Myers and third on another grounder. Alexis Valverde poked a single between first and second to plate the winning run and give Salem the 2-1 walk-off win.
 
Frostburg quickly shook off the loss to start game two, as Russo drew a lead-off walk and Nelson worked an infield single, with each runner moving up on a sac bunt from junior Arden Miller. Funk plated both on a grounder through the right side, helped out by a bobble from the Tiger RF to move up 2-0. This time getting the start from the mound, Myers got a quick three outs to bring FSU back to the plate. Freshman Zoey Marinello put a single into left to lead off, then Sommerkamp followed with a ball up the middle to put two on with one out. A grounder to first put both in scoring position, but a groundout back to the pitcher ended the frame without a score.
 
SU put their first two batters on with back-to-back singles and got to second and third on a fly ball to center, but Myers was able to work out of trouble with a pop up in foul ground and a fly ball to left to keep the hosts off the board. The Bobcats went down in order in the third, while the Tigers finally took advantage of getting their runners on. A single led off the frame followed by a groundout, walk, and fielder's choice to put two outs on the board. Salem kept their inning alive in a big way, smacking a double and three consecutive singles to plate four total runs and move ahead 4-2.
 
FSU pulled a run back in the fourth, as Binek and Marinello drew two straight walks before a fielder's choice off the bat of Myers put runners on the corner. Sommerkamp lofted a fly ball to right that was deep enough to score Binek for a 4-3 game. The Tigers weren't able to get anything going in their next trip to the plate, while within two batters the Bobcats tied the game in the fifth. Nelson walked to kick things off and came roaring around the bases on straightaway double from Miller for an even 4-4 score.
 
The stalemate wouldn't last long, however, as SU put their first six batters on base with a pair of walks, three singles, and a hit by pitch putting the score at 7-4. After back-to-back strikeouts, another batter was hit with the bases still loaded, ending the frame up by four runs. Each side went down 1-2-3 during their next at-bats, with the Bobcats having one last chance at the plate. Miller lined a one-out single in hopes of keeping the game alive, but back-to-back pop ups ended the game with Salem coming out ahead 8-4.
 
Nelson, Miller, Funk, and Stetler all recorded multiple hits on the day, led by the former's three to go with a trio of runs scored.
 
With the losses, Frostburg drops to 10-24 on the year, while Salem improves to 18-15. FSU continues their road trip on Wednesday, April 9 to face Fairmont State with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.