WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team dropped a Mountain East Conference doubleheader to Frostburg State Friday afternoon at Kovalick Field.

    Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers (9-21, 5-9) saw the visiting Bobcats (17-12, 9-5) pull away late to a 10-2 win in the first game before eking out a 3-2 decision in the finale.

    In the opener, Ryan Talbert belted a two-run home run in the third inning that was it for the WLU attack as the rest of the Hilltoppers managed just three scattered singles before the Bobcats broke open a tight contest with six runs in their last two at-bats.

    A two-run double off the bat of Kayne McGee gave the hosts a 2-1 lead after one inning of the second game but a trio of FSU hurlers combined to shut out the Black and Gold on just three singles the rest of the way. The Hilltoppers were still able to nurse that lead into the fifth inning only to see the visitors string together three straight hits to plate the tying and go-ahead runs.

    Ethan Kiple got the save for Frostburg State, setting West Liberty down on five strikeouts and no walks over the final two frames.

    The teams return to Kovalick Field on Saturday for another MEC doubleheader. Game One is set for a 1 p.m. start.

BASEBALL

Frostburg State 10, West Liberty 2

Frostburg State       012 004 2 - 9  10  0

West Liberty            002 000 0 - 2    4  1

     FSU: Proctor wp (3SO, 2W), Huyer (5) (4SO, 4W) and Probst. Shertzer D, 2S, rbi; Kiple HR, D, 3rbi; Allison HR, 3rbi; Probst D

     WLU: Pennybacker lp (7SO, 2W), Harmon (7) (0SO, 1W) and Goodyear. Talbert HR, 2rbi

Frostburg State 3, West Liberty 2

Frostburg State       100 020 0 - 3  8  2

West Liberty            200 000 0 - 2  5  0

     FSU: Campbell wp (3SO, 1W), Vermillion (5) (0SO, 0W), Kiple (6) (5SO, 0W) and Jimenez. Estrada HR, S, rbi; Guy D, S, 2rbi; Kiple 2S

     WLU: Brady lp (3SO, 1W) and Goodyear. McGee D, 2rbi