Bulldog Bats Stay Hot In Doubleheader Sweep Over Findlay
The bats for Ferris State University continued to be productive as the Bulldogs racked up 10 hits to notch an 8-2 decision over Findlay this Friday (April 15) in game two and secure a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader sweep of the Oilers at the FSU Varsity Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich.
Through the nightcap's initial three innings, Ferris State held a five-run lead (6-1) by tallying three in the first, two in the second, and one run in the third. Junior first baseman Chelsea Morris (Jenison), who was one of three Bulldog hitters to post two hits in the contest, put Ferris State on the scoreboard in the first by drilling her team-leading sixth home run of this season with a three-run blast to deep right centerfield. The Oilers would get one back on two hits in the bottom of the first, but Ferris State came right back in the second inning with two more runs on consecutive wild pitches by Findlay starting hurler Julia Stalder (2-2).
Senior shortstop Lynsay Weaver (Bay City/All Saints) extended Ferris' lead to 6-1 on a RBI double to left centerfield in the third, which scored junior outfielder Stephanie Dusendang (Comstock Park/Rockford) with one out. Dusendang had reached base on a walk prior to moving over to second base on a wild pitch.
Findlay, which fell to 18-13-1 overall and 6-10 in the GLIAC's South Division, plated its second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff double and a run-scoring single.
A two-run home run off the bat off sophomore designated player Lindsey Pettit (Portland) in the top of the sixth wrapped up the scoring for either team. Pettit homered for the second time on the day as her two-run shot sailed over the fence in right centerfield. The roundtripper by Pettit represented her fourth of the year.
Three individuals - senior outfielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South), junior third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids), and Chelsea Morris all generated two hits apiece for Ferris State, which evened its overall record to 15-15 and upped its GLIAC North Division mark to 12-6 on the season. Chelsea Morris totaled three RBIs in the encounter and Lindsey Pettit contributed with two RBIs.
FSU freshman pitcher Amy Dunleavy (Canton) improved her record to 5-8 this spring as she fanned six and walked one while allowing eight hits in a seven-inning complete-game outing. Julia Stalder also went the distance for Findlay and struck out five while scattering the 10 Bulldog base hits.
Ferris State is back in action this Saturday (April 16) with a pair of league home contests against the Tiffin Dragons in Big Rapids, Mich. The first game is scheduled to commence at 1 p.m. (EDT) with the second game to follow around 3 p.m. (EDT).
Notes: With a base hit (double), Lindsay Weaver has now recorded a hit in her last 15 outings to date. Weaver also extended her streak of reaching base to 20 games . . . Lindsey Pettit chalked up two home runs and a combined six RBIs in the twinbill versus Findlay . . . Makenzi Peterson produced her team-leading 11th multiple-hit game with a pair of base hits . . . Chelsea Morris' three RBIs marked her squad-best ninth multi-RBI performance of this season . . . Lindsey Pettit (.433) and Makenzi Peterson (.418) are the Bulldogs' top hitters average wise in the last 15 games. Pettit (13-30) and Peterson (23-55) are among five Ferris State batters who are hitting at least .400 or higher.
