BOWIE, MD. – The Bowie State softball team (3-6) will travel to Frostburg, Md., to face Frostburg State (2-8) in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday, Mar. 9. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Bobcat Field.

When: Sunday, Mar. 9
Where: Bobcat Field – Frostburg, Md.
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Bulldogs Last Time Out
Bowie State split a doubleheader against Georgian Court, rebounding from an 11-3 loss in the opener to claim a 7-3 victory in game two on Saturday, Mar. 1 in Bowie, Md.

In the first game, the Bulldogs tallied nine hits, with Ariana Ellerson contributing an RBI double, but pitching struggles allowed Georgian Court to score in the first five innings, resulting in an 11-3 defeat.

BSU responded in game two by taking an early lead and steadily adding runs. Presleigh Braxton led the offense, going 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and three stolen bases. Pitcher Ryalee Dillard secured the win with a complete-game performance, allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out four.

About Bowie State
The Bulldogs have shown strong potential early on this season, boasting an impressive offensive lineup with a .286 team batting average. Braxton has been a standout performer, leading the team with a batting clip of .481, 13 hits, and six stolen bases while Jayla Hill adds power to the lineup with a .455 batting average and two home runs, and Coreena Dunham provides consistency with a .370 batting average, five doubles, and two home runs. Defensively, the Bulldogs have key contributors like Ellerson and Braxton, maintaining a solid .937 fielding percentage. 

On the mound, Dillard has been a dependable presence, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.58 ERA, while Sydney Seal has delivered quality outings with a 4.20 ERA in three games.

Bobcats Last Time Out
Frostburg State is coming off a pair of losses to Mount Olive and Lenoir-Rhyne, falling 14-6 and 11-3, both by mercy rule, on Sunday, Mar. 2, in Hickory, N.C. 

During game one, the Bobcats struck first, but Mount Olive responded with a five-run first inning and an eight-run second to take control. Frostburg State showed some fight in the third, with Bri Russo launching a three-run homer, while Arden Miller and Zoey Marinello also contributed offensively. However, the Trojans sealed the win in the fifth via the eight-run mercy rule.

Game two followed a similar pattern, with the Bobcats taking an early lead before Lenoir-Rhyne responded. After Russo and Gracie Nelson helped tie the game 3-3, the Bears pulled away with a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer. Lenoir-Rhyne closed it out in the fifth with another mercy-rule victory.

Scouting Frostburg State
Frostburg State is off to a challenging 2-8 start, struggling on both sides of the ball. The team is batting .327, led by Samara Funk with a .414 average and 2 home runs, and Olivia Stetler, who is hitting .400 with 12 RBI. However, opponents have posted a .388 batting average against them. Miller has contributed power with a .250 average and 4 home runs, while Laura Gilford, with a .615 average and 2 home runs in just five games, has provided a spark when in the lineup.

Defensively, FSU holds a .937 fielding percentage, but costly errors have plagued them. The pitching staff has posted a dismal 8.50 ERA, with Izabella Donaldson whose ERA is a 5.44 has been the most reliable arm. However, struggles from the rest of the staff have allowed opponents to score 90 runs in 10 games.

Up Next  
The Bulldogs will host Shippensburg University for a mid-week non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 11, at 1 p.m. at the BSU Softball Field.