FSU Softball Suffers 10-0 Game-One Setback To Ashland

The Ferris State University softball team put together six hits but were unable to get on the scoreboard as the Bulldogs dropped a 10-0 five-inning decision to Ashland this Sunday (March 27) in game one of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader at Brookside Park in Ashland, Ohio.

The Bulldogs, who drop to 6-11 overall and 3-2 in the GLIAC's North Division this spring with the loss, had good scoring opportunities in both the fourth and fifth innings as FSU left three runners on base in both frames.  

Offensively for Ferris State, junior left fielder Stephanie Dusendang (Comstock Park/Rockford) and sophomore second baseman Lainee Clay (Wheelersburg, Ohio) both collected a team-leading two hits apiece.  Senior right fielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South) recorded a base hit as did senior shortstop Lynsay Weaver (Bay City/All Saints). 

Ashland, which is 12-9 overall and 4-1 in the GLIAC's South Division as a result of the victory, produced two runs apiece in the second and third innings off sophomore pitcher Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.).  The Eagles' bats continued to be effective against Bowler in the fourth as AU tallied three more runs on as many hits to go up 7-0 after four complete innings.  Ashland would end the contest in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Machen belted a one-out three-run homer off sophomore relief pitcher Emily Carlson (Wixom/Walled Lake Western).

Ferris State had their first scoring chance in the top of the fourth when Stephanie Dusendang and Lynsay Weaver both delivered back-to-back singles with two outs.  Junior designated player Allison Webber (Frankfort) walked to load the bases, but senior catcher Rachel Mueller (Milford/Santa Clarita, Calif. Valencia) struck out.  The Bulldogs' had another opportunity in the fifth inning when Lainee Clay lead off with a single and one out later, Colleen Roney hit a pitch up the middle for a single.  Junior third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids) then reached base on a fielder's choice to put FSU runners on all three bases.  However, Ashland pitcher Emlyn Knerem retired the next two batters on an infield pop up and a fly out to right field to end the inning. 

In the circle, Dana Bowler's record dropped to 4-4 on the season as she pitched the initial 3.2 innings for Ferris State while giving up seven Eagles' hits and seven runs (six earned runs) to go with two strikeouts.   

Notes: Stephanie Dusendang has hit safely in her last four games and posted her second multi-hit outing this season with two hits at Ashland . . . Lainee Clay's two hits at Ashland marked a season game high . . . Colleen Roney is batting a .438 average (7-16) on the Bulldogs' current GLIAC-opening road swing this weekend which includes a five-game hitting streak and a pair of two-hit game performances .