Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team returned to action on Wednesday (March 13) with a pair of contests at the Florida Rebel Spring Games following a day off in Kissimmee, Fla.
The Bulldogs came out with a split in Wednesday's action. FSU opened the day by running its winning streak to six consecutive games with a dominating 9-0 triumph over Lees-McRae (N.C.) in five innings before falling to Southern Indiana by a 4-0 count in the nightcap.
Ferris State took control early versus Lees-McRae in the opener as the Bulldogs scored twice in the first and added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. FSU then scored three runs in the fourth and held Lees-McRae scoreless in the fifth to notch the victory.
The Bulldogs outhit Lees-McRae 7-3 and received four strikeouts from junior pitcher Amy Dunleavy, who notched her fourth win of the campaign with the victory.
Senior Lindsey Pettit tallied a pair of hits, including a double, while driving in a team-high three runs for FSU in the opener. Right fielder Rachel Gabrielson added two RBI's while Dunleavy tripled and scored three runs in the game. Shortstop Michelle Tononi also scored twice while Alex Wittman doubled to help the Bulldog cause.
In game two, Southern Indiana struck for four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to take a four-run advantage and the score stood for the duration of the game. USI held a slim 8-7 edge in total hits, but the Bulldogs left 11 runners on base in the contest.
Senior pitcher Dana Bowler hurled six innings for the Bulldogs and allowed all four runs on eight hits. She walked only one and posted six strikeouts in tossing the entire game.
Alyssa Smith posted a pair of hits for Ferris State in the outing while Taylor Verbic, Liz Hamming, Allison Webber along with Pettit and Tononi all had a hit apiece. Webber recorded the only extra-base hit for the Bulldogs with a double.
With Wednesday's split, the Bulldogs now own a 6-2 overall record to date in the Sunshine State, which represents FSU's second-best start to a season in the last 15 years.
Ferris State will continue action on Thursday (March 14) with two more games against Southwest Minnesota State and Illinois-Springfield beginning at 1 p.m. (ET) and 5 p.m. (ET), respectively.
The Bulldogs then wrap up competition in the Florida Rebel Spring Games by facing Tiffin and Southwest Minnesota State on Friday (March 15) with game times beginning at 3 and 5 p.m. (ET).
