Ferris State Suffers One-Run Setback In Lone Contest Played On Thursday In Florida

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team returned to the field on Thursday (March 12) at The Spring Games following a day off, but FSU managed to get only a single game of action in at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.

The Bulldogs' opening game of the day against Mercy on Thursday morning was called off due to wet conditions. However, game two against Shippensburg took place with FSU suffering a close 2-1 setback in an action-packed contest.

The game at Minneola Field #2 saw the Bulldogs jump on the board first with the game's opening score in the top half of the first inning. That would be all the scoring the Bulldogs could muster though in a game that lasted eight innings and featured several key moments.

Shippensburg knotted the contest up at a run apiece in the bottom half of the opening frame and the score remained deadlocked until the final inning. In addition, each team had exactly four hits in the game during the defensive struggle.

Ferris State's opening run of the game came on a two-out single from Sydney Hasselbach, which scored outfielder Alyssa Smith.

In the bottom of the first inning, Shippensburg's Maddie Justice was hit by a pitch and reached base. Soon after, Briana Giovenco homered to left field for an apparent two-run homer to give the Raiders the lead. However, one of the runs was eventually taken off the board on an appeal as Giovenco was credited with a triple and ruled out at home for having a teammate touch her before she crossed the plate.

The 1-1 score stood up thru seven innings as the two squads headed to extra play. In the eighth inning, Shippensburg shut down the Bulldogs in the top half of the inning. Then, in the bottom of the frame, the Raiders won the game after FSU intentionally walked a batter and a sacrifice fly from Taylor Pattillo scored Justice to win the contest.

The setback spoiled a two-hit performance for Bulldog shortstop Sarah Johnson. FSU's Kayti Carlson also produced a hit along with Hasselbach for the Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, four different players each had a hit for Shippensburg, which improved to 5-2 overall this season.

Senior Cara DeLange started the game for the Bulldogs and allowed only two runs on four hits in seven and one-third innings of work. She also struck out seven batters and walked only two. Stacy Thompson pitched in relief and walked two in one-third of an inning.

For Shippensburg, Chloe Collins pitched six innings with one run allowed on three hits with seven K's and five walks. Makenzie Lynn earned the win in two full innings with one strikeout and two walks. She gave up only a single hit in the game played under sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 80's.

Ferris State continues action in Florida on Friday (March 13) with games against Merrimack and Urbana at 3 and 5 p.m. (ET), respectively. The Spring Games runs thru Sunday with the Bulldogs playing two games per day over the next three days.