WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team exploded for 14 runs in the second game of a doubleheader here Saturday to earn a split with Frostburg State in Mountain East Conference action at Kovalick Field.

    The visiting Bobcats (18-13, 10-6) had hung on for a 5-3 win in the first game but Coach Eric Burkle's Hilltoppers (10-22, 6-10) avenged that loss with a 14-10 win in the finale.

    In the opener, Frostburg State snapped a 1-1 tie with two unearned runs in the top of the sixth and made it 5-1 in the seventh on a two-run home run off the bat of Mikey Guy before holding off a West Liberty rally in the bottom of the seventh.

    Will Balgo reached base on an infield error to start the inning. With one out, back-to-back singles by Brad Goodyear and Ty Helmke brought home the first run of the inning. Helmke promptly stole second and Goodyear scored when the catcher's throw sailed into centerfield, cutting the lead to 5-3 and bringing the tying run to the plate.

    Ethan Kiple came on to stifle the Hilltopper comeback, striking out the next two batters to close out the win and earn his 5th save of the season.

    Drake Dobson went the distance on the mound to take the hard-luck loss for the hosts despite holding the Bobcats to just two hits in his seven-inning stint. The only other hit was a solo homer by Ethan Kiple in the top of the second. Dobson struck out three and walked five.

    In the second game, West Liberty batted around in the bottom of the third to send seven runs across the plate and open up a 10-3 lead. Frostburg State responded with six runs in the top of the fourth, cutting the lead to 10-9, but a 3-run homer by Helmke highlighted a four-run inning that padded the margin to 14-9 heading into the fifth inning. The WLU bullpen held the Bobcats to just one run the rest of the way to secure the split.

    Every West Liberty starter had at least one hit in the second game. Helmke drove in four runs with a single and home run while Jake Sherman doubled and singled to chase home a pair of runs. Balgo and Ryan Talbert each had two-run doubles, Kayne McGee chipped in with a two-run single, Noah Mildren homered and Zach Hawkins donated an RBI base knock.

    The Hilltoppers return to action on Tuesday with a scheduled nine-inning non-conference game against California (Pa.) at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pa. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

BASEBALL

Frostburg State 5, West Liberty 3

Frostburg State                010 002 2 - 5  2  2

West Liberty                     000 010 2 - 3  6  2

     FSU: Stretch (6SO, 1W), Pippin wp (5) (1SO, 1W), Kiple (7) (2SO, 0W) and Probst. Guy HR, 2rbi; Kiple HR, rbi

     WLU: Dobson lp (3SO, 5W) and Goodyear. Scott T, S; Helmke S, rbi; Talbert S, rbi

Frostburg State 14, West Liberty 10

Frostburg State           300 610 0 - 10  12  0

West Liberty                037 400 x - 14  11  2

     FSU: Maruskin (3SO, 3W), Ford lp (2SO, 1W), Grove (3) (0SO, 1W), Smith (4) (0SO, 1W), Huyer (4) (1SO, 0W), Tameris (5) (1SO, 0W), Ricketts (6) (1SO, 0W) and Probst. Kiple HR, 2S, 4rbi; Steen 2S; Estrada HR, 3rbi; Shertzer S, rbi; Dutton S, rbi; Allison D

     WLU: Conley (2SO, 2W), Winter (4) (0SO, 2W), Clark wp (5) (2SO, 2W), Thomas (7) (0SO, 1W) and Z.Hawkins. Helmke HR, S, 4rbi; Sherman D, S, 2rbi; Talbert D, 2rbi; Balgo D, 2rbi; McGee S, 2rbi; Mildren HR, rbi; Z.Hawkins S, rbi