Ferris State Softball Posts Two Impressive Wins In Sweeping Lake Superior State

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team registered an impressive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) home sweep over visiting Lake Superior State on Monday (April 21) as the Bulldogs rolled to a pair of league wins under rainy and wet conditions at the FSU Softball Field.

FSU took game one by a 6-1 score and finished off the Lakers with a dominating 8-0 triumph in five innings during the nightcap in Big Rapids. The two wins lifted FSU to 13-13 overall and 8-7 in the conference.

In the opening game of the rescheduled twinbill, the Bulldogs scored four runs in the top half of the second inning to grab the early advantage. FSU also added single runs in the last two frames after LSSU had pulled within three runs with its lone run of the day in the bottom of the fourth.

The Bulldogs pounded out 12 hits in game one and the combination of junior pitcher Cara DeLange and sophomore reliever Stacy Thompson combined to allow only a single run on five hits. DeLange threw the initial four and two-thirds innings and had a pair of strikeouts with two walks while giving up the five hits. Meanwhile, Thompson came on in relief for the final two and one-third innings and did not allow a run or hit while posting two strikeouts with a walk.

Offensively, the Bulldogs received two hits each from designated player Alyssa Smith along with first baseman Megan Galganski, catcher Casey Bias and outfielder Jordan Maxwell. Sarah Johnson posted a pair of RBI's and Maxwell doubled to lead the Bulldogs at the plate. FSU stranded nine runners in the game, but the Lakers also left eight on base.

Lake Superior State starter Brandi Anderson allwoed six runs on 12 hits with four walks and three strikeouts before Alyssa Boucher came in for the final two-thirds of an inning to shut down the Bulldogs. Amanda Maxon had a team-high two hits in the game with Carly Banchiu driving in LSSU's only run.

The rain picked up early in game two, but the Bulldogs picked up right where they left off in the opener. FSU scored one run in both the first and second innings before adding two more in the third and one in the fourth to build a 5-0 cushion. FSU then tallied three runs in the fifth as senior Alex Wittman notched a walk-off double to end the game by the run rule.

Freshman pitcher Megan Hiler went the distance and allowed only a single hit in the contest. She had four walks and three strikeouts in notching her fourth win of the season. 

Meanwhile, Boucher earned the start for the Lakers and also re-entered late in the game, but gave up four runs on seven hits with a single walk and no strikeouts. Jade Stein pitched in the middle and allowed four runs on one hit with four walks.

Bias tallied her fourth home run of the year for the Bulldogs in the victory with both Wittman and Maxwell recording doulbes in the game. FSU also stole three bases and had two runners on base when the game ended. Bias picked up three RBI's with Wittman totaling two and both senior Amy Dunleavy and Rachael Gabrielson recording one each.

FSU's eight total hits in the nightcap all came from eight different batters.

LSSU fell to 6-20 overall and 5-15 in league play with the two losses.

Ferris State continues a lengthy homestand against Wayne State on Tuesday (April 22) at the FSU Softball Field. First pitch for game one of the conference twinbill is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET) with the second game to follow at approximately 4 p.m. (ET). The Bulldogs then host Saginaw Valley State for a single makeup game on Wednesday (April 23) starting at 5 p.m. (ET).