Frostburg, Md. – Despite continuing to challenge the top teams in the league, the West Liberty University softball team fell on the road to Frostburg State by scores of 6-2 and 11-10 on Friday afternoon at Bobcat Field. The Bobcats pitching was on display in game one as they kept the Hilltopper bats at-bay, limiting WLU to only five hits as they jumped out to a 6-0 advantage before the Black & Gold scored the final two runs of the opening game. Game two saw a total of four lead changes, all within the final three innings of play, but unfortunately ended with West Liberty's second loss by way of a walk-off in as many weeks.

QUICK DETAILS – GAME 1
Final Score: West Liberty 2, Frostburg State 6
Team Records: West Liberty 10-17 (5-4 MEC), Frostburg State 13-11 (6-3 MEC)
Attendance: 225
Pitching Decision: Win: Jamie Roberts (5-5), Loss: Madison Angus (1-6)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• West Liberty was unable to take advantage of Sydney Johnson and Sara Simon reaching base due to an error and walk in the top of the first inning, allowing for Frostburg State to strike first in the bottom of the frame with one run scoring on an error to make it 1-0 FSU.
• As the Hilltoppers were held without a hit once again in the top of the second, despite Mallory Rosnick reaching on an error, the Bobcats extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the frame with a solo homerun to left center.
• FSU stretched their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third as they scored one run on a single to left field, one run on a double to left center, and one run on a single to left center.
• WLU's first hit of the afternoon came as Shelby Harris knocked a leadoff single to right field in the top of the fourth inning, and she came around to score as Carlee Leidy single to first base as the deficit was cut to 6-1.
• Ashlyn Tapman entered the circle in relief in the bottom of the fourth, beginning her afternoon with a 3-up, 3-down frame.
• West Liberty once again trimmed the deficit in the top of the fifth as Simon crossed the plate on a single to left field by Jaden Conrad, after hitting a double to right center, as WLU cut the deficit to 6-2.
• Both teams were scoreless for the remainder of the contest as Tapman was able to limit the Bobcats to only two more hits while the Hilltoppers were held without a hit the final two innings.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 1
Sara Simon: 1-for-2, 1 double, 2 walks, 1 run scored
Carlee Leidy: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Shelby Harris: 1-for-3, 1 run scored
Ashlyn Tapman: 3.0 innings pitched, 2 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 1 strikeout
 
QUICK DETAILS – GAME 2
Final Score: West Liberty 10, Frostburg State 11
Team Records: West Liberty 10-18 (5-5 MEC), Frostburg State 14-11 (7-3 MEC)
Attendance: 245
Pitching Decision: Win: Katie Chapple (1-3), Loss: Ashlyn Tapman (1-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After West Liberty went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the first inning it was once again Frostburg State that struck first in game two as they scored two on a single to center field and a sacrifice fly to center field made it 3-0 in the bottom of the frame.
• Both teams went down in order in the second inning before the Hilltoppers earned their first runs of the contest as a ground out by Kieran Johnson allowed for Lauren Nolte to score and an error gave enough time for Caroline Woody to cross the plate and cut the deficit to 3-2.
• FSU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth with two runs scoring on an error to make their lead 5-2.
• The Hilltoppers took their first lead of the afternoon with a 5-run top of the fifth inning, making it a 7-5 advantage. The scoring in the frame started with a single to center field by Johnson bringing home Mallory Rosnick, then a single to center field by Sara Simon scored Olivia Munoz, and WLU grabbed the lead with a 3-run homerun to right center by Jaden Conrad.
• Both teams were held without a hit their next at-bats before Frostburg State regained the lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth as they scored one run on a bases loaded hit by pitch and then three crossed the plate on a single to right field aided by an error, making it 9-7.
• West Liberty would not go away as they took the lead back in the top of the seventh as they scored one run on a single to left center by Conrad which scored Avery Becker and then both Leah Alford and Conrad scored on a fielder's choice by Sydney Johnson to make it 10-9.
• The Bobcats were able to swing the momentum one final time as a double to left center tied the contest at ten apiece and a single to left field walked it off to give FSU a 11-10 victory.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS – GAME 2
Sophia Aperfine: 2-for-2
Avery Becker: 1-for-1, 1 run scored
Jaden Conrad: 2-for-4, 1 homerun, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored
Mallory Rosnick: 2-for-4, 2 doubles
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will remain on the road Saturday as they visit MEC North Division leading Fairmont State. The Hilltoppers and Falcons are slated for 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. first pitch times at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont, West Virginia.