FSU Earns Sweep With Decisive Victory

FSU Earns Sweep With Decisive Victory

Big Rapids, Mich. - It may have been a different game, but the result was much the same for the Ferris State University softball team as the Bulldogs posted a 7-0 triumph over Aquinas in game two of a non-league doubleheader to earn the sweep on Monday (March 19) afternoon at the FSU Softball Field.

The Bulldogs, who recorded an identical 7-0 win over the saints in the first game of the twinbill, had nearly the same results in game two of the home-opening doubleheader.

After FSU produced all seven runs in the sixth to win game one, the Bulldogs used three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to break a scoreless deadlock in the nightcap.

In the fifth, the Bulldogs finally broke the tie as junior catcher Liz Hamming opened the offense with a double.  A second double down the right field line from junior second baseman Lainee Clay produced the game's first run.  A fielder's choice from freshman shortstop Michelle Tononi plated Clay and sophomore outfielder Alex Wittman singled to left center to bring home Tononi.

Ferris State added four more insurance runs in the sixth as Clay added a double down the left field line to drive in two runs.  A single from pinch hitter Bianca Vasovski accounted for another RBI with the final one produced by sophomore Brittney Buti's sacrifice fly.

The Bulldogs totaled 10 hits in the game and limited the Saints to only four.  Sophomore pitcher Amy Dunleavy threw the first six innings and allowed no runs on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk.  Sophomore Cara DeLange pitched in relief and struck out one while not allowing a hit in the game.

Clay finished with three RBI's in the game and had a pair of dobules.  The other eight Bulldog hits all came from eight different batters.

Carlie Giarmo tossed five innings in the circle for Aquinas and gave up six runs on six hits with both a single walk and strikeout. Rebecca Shineldecker came on and threw the final inning while giving up one run and one hit.

With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 8-8 overall this season and Aquinas fell to 9-8 on the year with the two setbacks on Monday.

Ferris State returns to action as the Bulldogs open Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on the road this week.  FSU visits Findlay on Friday (March 23) for a league twinbill starting at 3:30 p.m. (ET) before heading to Tiffin on Saturday (March 24) and Wayne State on Sunday (March 25) for two games each.