Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad hit the field for the fourth day in a row on Monday (Feb. 9) as FSU squared off against Union (Tenn.) in non-league play at Fesmire Field in Jackson, Tenn.
The Bulldogs, who were playing in their second of three different states as part of a season-opening 10-game trip to the South, suffered a pair of tight one-run setbacks to the host school in the afternoon doubleheader. The double dip was played under sometimes windy and chilly conditions with temperatures in the low to mid 40's under cloudy skies.
In game one, Union scored the lone run of the contest in the bottom half of the first inning and shut down the Bulldogs the rest of the way in a 1-0 triumph. Host Union then rallied from a two-run deficit in the nightcap to pull out a 4-3 win.
The back-to-back wins for Union improved their mark to 5-1 on the year with three of the wins coming over the Bulldogs after the two teams had previously played on Friday in the Charger Chillout hosted by the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
Union scored the lone run of game one in the opening frame after compiling a pair of hits with aid from a Bulldog error in the field. UU's Carter Mansolino produced the only run on a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Summer Cross.
The hosts received a stellar pitching performance from Kelly Robey in the opener as she struck out 18 Bulldog batters and walked only once in hurling all seven innings. She allowed only two FSU hits with those coming off the sticks of designated player Alyssa Smith along with right fielder Taylor Verbic.
Ferris State's Stacy Thompson also pitched a solid game in the circle as she gave up only the single run on five hits with two K's and a walk in six innings pitched. Cross led Union at the plate with a pair of hits in addition to scoring the only run on the board. FSU did produce four stolen bases in the contest, including two from Smith, but left seven runners on base.
The Bulldogs got off to a quick start in game two by scoring the first run of the contest in the top half of the inning. Smith came up with the initial run as she eventually scored on a passed ball after opening the contest with a bunt to get on base.
Union managed to tie the game back up with a run in the bottom of the second before Ferris State put two more runs on the board in the top half of the third as the Bulldogs tallied a hit from Sarah Johnson and took advantage of two Union errors to score Verbic and Johnson.
However, the lead didn't hold up as the hosts scored a single run in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames to eek out the 4-3 triumph. Union outhit FSU 9-3 in game two overall and closed out contest by limiting the Bulldogs to only three batters in FSU's final at-bat in the seventh.
Reagan Schrader recorded three hits for Union in the nightcap to lead all batters, which included a double. UU also received a homer from Caylee Crews and two hits from Madison Tennyson in the triumph.
Union's Alex Williams got the start in game two, but was pulled after two and two-thirds innings as the Bulldogs tallied three runs on two hits with two walks against her to start the game. Robey came on in relief and had another strong performance with only a single hit allowed and no runs in the final four and one-third innings. She totaled nine strikeouts with two walks in game two.
For Ferris State, senior Cara DeLange tossed the first four innings and gave up only two runs on four hits with four K's and a walk. Sophomore Megan Hiler pitched in relief and allowed two runs as well on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk in two innings of work.
Offensively, the Bulldogs received single hits from Smith, Johnson and Verbic in game two. Verbic added a stolen base and FSU left only four runners stranded in the finale.
The Bulldogs will wrap up their season-opening swing by visiting regional foe Bellarmine (Ky.) on Tuesday (Feb. 10) for an afternoon twinbill in Louisville, Ky. Game one starts at 2 p.m. (ET) with game two to follow at approximately 4 p.m. (ET).
