Ferris State Blasts Past Mary, 8-3

The Ferris State University softball team was able to get back on the winning path as the Bulldogs erupted for a five-run second inning while totaling eight hits en route to an 8-3 decision over Mary (N.D.) in Saturday's (March 6) second game at the Florida Rebel Spring Games Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Bulldogs, who even their spring break tourney record to 1-1, improved their overall record to 3-5 on the season with the win.

Mary jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning as the Marauders scored both of their runs despite going hitless.  A throwing error by senior pitcher Rhea Flores (Dearborn Heights/Southgate Anderson) led to the visitor's two runs.  However, Ferris State would overcome the deficit in the bottom half of the second inning as the Bulldogs generated five runs on as many hits to go with a UM error.  The key run-scoring hit was delivered by senior second baseman Amanda Harrington (St. Joseph/Stevensville-Lakeshore), who doubled to the left centerfield gap to score three runners.  A pair of RBI singles off the bats of senior outfielder Rachel Wade (Canton) and freshman outfielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) accounted for the other two Bulldog runs. 

Ferris State maintained its 5-2 lead until the top of the fourth when the Marauders scored a run on three hits to slice the Bulldogs' margin to two runs.  In the bottom of the sixth inning, FSU created a little more breathing room as the Bulldogs tack on three more runs as a result of three hits and an error.  Junior outfielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard) knocked in one run on a single as did Amanda Harrington.  A throwing error in the infield would eventually score Harrington for the contest's final run. 

In the circle, Rhea Flores earned the win as she went 3.2 innings in a starting role.  She walked two and recorded one strikeout in improving her record to 2-0.  Freshman Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.) spelled Flores in the fourth and picked up the save as she threw 3.1 innings of one-hit relief while issuing one walk and one strikeout.

The contest represented the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Ferris State continues its Florida Rebel Spring Tourney action this Sunday (March 7) as the Bulldogs go up against Philadelphia Sciences at 9 a.m. (EST) before tangling with Truman (Mo.) in an 11 a.m. (EST) tilt.