FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Senior Greg Ross (Towson, md./Loch Raven) nearly reached his season-high in strikeouts as the Frostburg State baseball team defeated Wesley in the first round of the Capital Athletic Conference tournament, 5-3, Thursday afternoon.
Ross was nearly perfect through the first five innings, giving up just a walk in each of the first two frames. Wesley (16-17) got its first hit in the sixth, but Ross got Kevin Murphy to fly out to senior Matt Ridenour (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) in right to end the inning.
On the day, Ross had 11 strikeouts, just one under his season high, while giving up just three runs on four hits and two walks. The Bobcats (19-10) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Freshman Tyler Hawthorne (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. Dupont) and senior Daniel Heatwole (Dayton, Va./Turner Ashby) hit back-to-back singles to open the inning. Hawthorne and Heatwole each moved up a base on a wild pitch for junior Garrett Price (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty (Emory & Henry)). Price and senior Matt Greene (Westminster, Md./South Carroll) then hit back-to-back infield singles to bring around Hawthorne and Heatwole.
The Wolverines got one back in the top of the seventh on a hit and groundout, but once again Ross got out of the inning getting Corey Jefferson to chase a third strike.
The Bobcats answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth, which proved to be much needed breathing room. Ridenour reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Hawthorne doubled to left center to bring around Ridenour and push the lead to 3-1. Junior Torian Cyrus (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls (Potomac State)) came out to pinch run for Hawthorne and Heatwole walked on four pitches to put two runners on for junior Shane Boyd (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus). Boyd took a pitch to deep right center for a base-clearing triple and give Frostburg a 5-1 lead.
The Wolverines got two runs back in the top of the ninth and were threatening with runners on the corners and two outs, but senior Britton Quayle (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) came out in relief and picked up the one-out save. Quayle now leads the team with three saves on the season, all coming against Wesley.
Greene and Hawthorne each had two hits and an RBI on the day, while Boyd picked up the game winning hit in the eighth.
The Bobcats continue in the CAC tournament when they host No. 4 St. Mary's (Md.) at Bob Wells Field at 3:30 p.m, Friday afternoon.