Ferris State Runs Past Lake Superior State In Doubleheader Opener

Scoring all of its runs in the final three innings, the Ferris State University softball team cruised to a 7-0 victory over Lake Superior State this Friday (April 2) afternoon in game one of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich.

The win improves Ferris State's record this season to 10-9 overall and 1-2 in the GLIAC while Lake Superior State drops to 5-22 overall and is now 0-5 in conference action.

The Bulldogs ended a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning as a result of a pair of runs on two hits.  Junior catcher Rachel Mueller (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia) put FSU on top with a two-run scoring double through the left side of the Lakers' infield to score both senior outfielder Rachel Wade (Canton) and freshman outfielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport).  Wade led off the inning with a walk and Kramerich reached base on a bunt single of LSSU starting pitcher Nicole Stein.

A RBI single by Rachel Wade in the bottom of the fifth inning gave Ferris State a 3-0 cushion before the Bulldogs would erupt for four runs on five hits and a LSSU error in the bottom of the sixth which increased their lead to 7-0.  FSU's initial run in the sixth frame came on a steal of home by freshman pinch-runner Delaney Eubank (Frankfort).  Sophomore third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids) followed with a RBI single to right field as the Bulldogs went up 5-0.  Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Dusendang (Comstock Park/Rockford) singled through the left side of the LSSU infield for another run and senior second baseman Amanda Harrington (St. Joseph/Stevensville-Lakeshore) took a Stein offering and hit the ball to center field for the contest's final score.

The Bulldogs had eight different batters collect a base hit in the game while the Lakers were held to just three hits by senior pitcher Kayle Stevenson (Holland/West Ottawa).  The FSU southpaw, who improved to 4-5 in the pitching circle this spring with the victory, walked one and fanned seven LSSU batters in notching the complete-game decision.  Nicole Stein (2-8) struck out four and walked three in six innings of work for the visiting Lakers.

Rachel Mueller concluded the contest with a team-leading two RBIs while Rachel Wade, Makenzi Peterson, Stephanie Dusendang, and Amanda Harrington each drove in a run.