Ferris State Blanks Grand Valley State, 7-0, In Twinbill Opener
Ferris State University freshman pitcher Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.) posted her fourth shutout of this season with a two-hit performance in the Bulldogs' 7-0 decision over Grand Valley State this Saturday (May 1) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener between the two teams at the GVSU Softball Field in Allendale, Mich.
The win improved Ferris State to 25-16 overall and 16-9 in conference action to date this spring.
Dana Bowler (8-10) allowed only the two GVSU hits while striking out seven and walking one batter in recording the complete-game decision.
Ferris State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on senior designated player Rhea Flores' (Dearborn Heights/Southgate Anderson) RBI single to score freshman outfielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport), who reached base on an one-out walk.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the third as a result of three hits of GVSU starting pitcher Andrea Nicholson (8-8). Rhea Flores, who totaled a team-high tying two hits in the contest, drove in the first run with a double while the third FSU run occurred on a sacrifice RBI flyout to left field off the bat of junior catcher Rachel Mueller (Santa Clarita, Calif./Valencia).
FSU upped its lead to 4-0 with a single run in the top of the sixth inning. Senior outfielder Rachel Wade (Canton) fouled off a Becky Gill offering which GVSU first baseman Breanne Kronberg made an over-the-shoulder catch going away from the infield but junior shortstop Lynsay Weaver (Bay City/All Saints) managed to score from third on a tag up.
A three-run seventh by Ferris State sealed the win as Lynsay Weaver belted a three-run shot over the right centerfield fence for her first roundtripper of the season.
The first of two Grand Valley State hits came in the third on a single by Maggie Kerrigan and then Nellie Kosola produced a single off Dana Bowler in the sixth inning.
Senior second baseman Amanda Harrington (St. Joseph/Stevensville-Lakeshore) matched Rhea Flores for game high honors with a pair of base hits as the Bulldogs accumulated 10 for the contest. Lynsay Weaver recorded three RBIs and Flores knocked in two runs.