Long Ball Lifts Frontier Past Greenville Twice

The Bobcats Baseball team put together a dominant day at the ballpark Tuesday, sweeping Greenville in emphatic fashion with wins of 10-3 and 24-3.

In the 10-3 victory, Josh French led the charge, blasting two home runs and driving in three runs. He gave FCC an early spark with a solo shot to left in the first inning, then struck again in the third with a two-run homer as Frontier pulled away.

The Bobcats plated four runs in the third, highlighted by French's blast and a two-run sacrifice fly from Cam Napier. Frontier added two more in the fourth when Jordan Carter connected on a solo home run to left and Gael Salinas later drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another run.

Braxton Mathews earned the win, allowing two hits and two runs over 2 2/3 innings while striking out six. Ethan Robbins, Drake Hartline, and Kaelin Farr each tossed scoreless innings in relief. Offensively, French and Mayes Gosser had two hits apiece, Salinas walked four times, and the Bobcats showed patience at the plate with nine total walks. Frontier swiped eight bases and played flawless defense, with Kasey Lowe handling 15 chances without an error.

The nightcap was even more lopsided, as FCC rolled to a 24-3 win.

Frontier opened the scoring in the first inning when Sean McConachie singled home two runs. Mason Newland added a solo home run to left in the second to extend the lead.

The third inning broke the game wide open. The Bobcats erupted for 11 runs on five hits. Gael Salinas homered to center, Garrett Schmidt delivered a three-run single, and Josh French added an RBI single. Kasey Lowe drove in a run on a fielder's choice, two Greenville errors led to three more runs, and Grady Combs capped the inning with a two-run triple.

FCC kept pouring it on in the fourth, scoring five more runs on six hits. Salinas singled in a run, Asa Dunlevey crushed a three-run homer to left, and Combs doubled home another run.

Johnny Lee earned the win, striking out two over a scoreless inning of work. Ethan Robbins, Jackson Ethridge, Aaron Buffington, and Nate Stivers each threw scoreless innings in relief.

The Bobcats pounded out 15 hits in the game. Garrett Schmidt went 4-for-5 and drove in five runs to lead the offense. Combs, Salinas, Dunlevey, and McConachie each collected multiple hits. Troy Mann drew three walks as Frontier totaled seven free passes. French and McConachie each stole multiple bases, helping the Bobcats rack up nine steals in the game.

Defensively, FCC was once again sharp, committing no errors. McConachie led the way with 12 chances in the field.

With the sweep, the Bobcats improve to 8-3 overall. Frontier will hit the road this Thursday and Friday, traveling to Sedalia, Missouri to take on the State Fair Community College Roadrunners, weather permitting.