Bulldogs' Winning Streak Ends In 11-8 Road Loss To Saginaw Valley State

Saginaw Valley State came out on fire with a four-run first inning and would hold on to capture an 11-8 victory over the Ferris State University softball team this Sunday (April 10) afternoon in the opener of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division doubleheader at SVSU's Cardinal Field in University Center, Mich.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Ferris State, which is now 13-14 overall with a 10-5 GLIAC North Division ledger.  Saginaw Valley State improved to 24-10 overall and 11-4 in the conference as a result of the win.

Saginaw Valley State tallied four runs with two hits in the bottom of the first inning off Bulldog starting hurler Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.), who went 3.2 innings and allowed seven hits with eight runs while striking out three.

Trailing 4-0, the Bulldogs cut the deficit in half by scoring twice in the top of the third inning on two hits to go with a SVSU error.  Sophomore second baseman Lainee Clay (Wheelersburg, Ohio) started the inning off with a double to right field and then sophomore outfielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) laid down a bunt for a single.  With two runners on, senior outfielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South) struck out but reached first base on an error by Cardinals' catcher Kalie Burdick, which allowed Clay to score.  Junior third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids) was successful in knocking in the second run with a fielder's choice to score Kramerich.

The Bulldogs, who were outhit 12-9 by the Cardinals, picked up another two runs in the top of the sixth to close within 8-4 after the hosts tallied a fifth-inning run.  Makenzi Peterson singled to start the inning and scored when junior first baseman Chelsea Morris (Jenison) blasted a two-run home run to right centerfield for her team-leading fifth roundtripper of this season.  In the bottom of the frame, Saginaw Valley State answered right back by netting three runs on four hits as all of their scoring occurred with two outs off sophomore relief pitcher Emily Carlson (Wixom/Walled Lake Western).

In their final inning, Ferris State was down 11-4 but battled to the end by recording four runs in the seventh while chalking up two hits and were aided with two Cardinals' errors.  A leadoff single by sophomore designated player Lindsey Pettit (Portland) and a SVSU fielding error put two Bulldogs on base with no outs.  Morgan Kramerich earned a base on balls and then Colleen Roney picked up a RBI on a groundout to score freshman pinch-runner Brittney Buti (Niles), who had advanced to third base prior to Kramerich's walk on a wild pitch.  Chelsea Morris knocked in FSU's second run off the inning on a groundout and the final two scores would come about as a result of junior outfielder Stephanie Dusendang's (Comtock Park/Rockford) RBI single to score Kramerich while Makenzi Peterson would also cross home plate as a result of a SVSU fielding error on the play.  Saginaw Valley State starter Jade Fulton (15-5) earned the win as she allowed four hits, seven runs and struck out seven in six innings while Bowler's four-game win string was snapped as her season mark dropped to 9-6.

Ferris State's Chelsea Morris had three RBI in a 2-for-4 afternoon while Stephanie Dusendang also had two hits and a RBI.  Kalie Burdick went three-for-three at the plate with three RBIs to pace the Cardinals. 

Notes: Makenzi Peterson's current hitting streak reached 10 games with a single in the contest.  Peterson is hitting a .459 average (17-37) with a .622 slugging percentage in those 10 outings . . .  Chelsea Morris and Makenzi Peterson have currently recorded a team-best tying seven multiple-hit game performances . . . Chelsea Morris' five home runs this season ties for 11th-most roundtrippers in a single season . . .  Chelsea Morris' team-best seven multi-RBI contests represents a personal career season high.  The FSU first baseman had three a season ago.