Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team opened a four-game weekend road set in Ohio against the Tiffin Dragons on Saturday (April 16) with a sweep in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play at Tiffin, Ohio.
FSU took game one by a 7-3 count and then pulled out a 3-2 victory in the nightcap to post their second sweep in the last three days of action.
In the opener, the Bulldogs scored first in the opening inning and then broke a 1-1 tie by totaling four runs in the fourth frame. Each team netted two runs in the seventh, but FSU held on for the win. The Bulldogs outhit the Dragons in the opener by a 9-6 margin.
Megan Jean pitched all seven innings of the opening game to earn the win for the Bulldogs while improving to 6-2 overall this campaign in the circle. She allowed only three runs on six hits with four strikeouts in seven ininngs of work. TU's Kelsey Yaratch suffered the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in three and two-thirds innings.
Designated player Emily Smith tallied two hits for the Bulldogs as did second baseman Michelle Tononi and first baseman Emily Reed. Both Tononi and Reed accounted for two RBI's with one each coming from Bailey Darwin, Casey Bias and Sarah Johnson. Tononi also scored twice.
In game two, Tiffin struck first with two runs in the third, but FSU answered with two in the bottom of the fourth. The Bulldogs then got the go-ahead run in the sixth and held the Dragons without a run in the seventh to earn the sweep. Overall, FSU outhit TU 9-5 in game two.
Senior Stacy Thompson got the win in the second game of the twinbill for her eighth victory of the campaign. She hurled all seven frames with only two runs allowed on five hits to go with two strikeouts and a walk. Tiffin's Tiffany Snell suffered the loss despite allowing only three runs on nine hits with six K's and four walks.
Darwin doubled twice for the Bulldogs while Smith, Reed and Johnson all posted RBI's. The Bulldogs were led by Darwin's three hits with Sith notching two in addition to one each for Tononi, Reed, Johnson and Sam Bates.
FSU's Smith produced the winning run with an RBI single to right field in the sixth which scored Alyssa Smith.
With the two wins, the Bulldogs improved to 25-15 overalll and 10-6 in GLIAC action.
Ferris State is back in action on Sunday (April 17) as FSU visits Ohio Dominican for a league twinbill starting at 12 p.m. (ET) in Columbus. FSU then returns home to host Northwood on Tuesday (April 19) to begin an eight-game conference homestand.
