Ferris State Prevails In Extra-Inning Affair For Season's First Win

The Ferris State University softball team needed extra innings in Sunday's (Feb. 21) non-conference contest against West Georgia, but managed to come out on top for the first time as a costly throwing error in the bottom of hte eighth inning helped the Bulldogs earn their first victory of this season in a 4-3 decision at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout in Decatur, Ala.

Ferris State, which sports a 1-4 overall record this season, had to come from behind in its initial triumph this spring.  The game was scoreless through the first two innings before West Georgia scored two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-0 advantage.  A two-run fourth by Ferris State evened the score at 2-2 until the next top-half of the inning when the Wolves put one runner across home plate to regain the upper hand at 3-2.

West Georgia's lead was short lived as the Bulldogs rallied once again by scoring the tying run in the bottom half of the fifth inning which would eventually resulted in the contest going into extra innings.

Ferris State managed to keep the Wolves in check and off the scoreboard in the proceeding next three frames.  Freshman left fielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) scored the winning run with junior catcher Rachel Mueller (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) at bat in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Kramerich stole second base and the throw by West Georgia to the base went into the outfield which allowed the Bulldog runner to scamper home and give FSU its first victory of the season.

Offensively, Morgan Kramerich played a key part in the team's win by producing two hits in three official plate appearances.  She also scored twice to go with a walk and a stolen base.  Five other Bulldog batters recorded a base hit apiece with sophomore first baseman Chelsea Morris' (Jenison) hit being a double.

Rachel Mueller, sophomore utility player Allison Webber (Frankfort), and junior shortstop Lynsay Weaver (Bay City/All Saints) each collected a RBI in the outing.  Weaver drove in her run on a sacrifice fly. 

Senior Rhea Flores (Dearborn Heights/Southgate Anderson) earned the win for Ferris State with a solid eight-inning pitching performance.  Flores gave up three runs, all unearned, while allowing four hits, one walk, two hit by pitch, and struck out four Wolves' hitters.  She also added a single in the encounter.