Ferris State Registers First Sweep Of Season With Two Big Wins In Florida

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team pulled off its first sweep of the season as the Bulldogs beat Quincy (Ill.) and Assumption (Mass.) by identical 10-2 scores on Tuesday (March 7) at The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.

The Bulldogs, who have now won four of their last six outings this year, started off the day in a big way by pounding out 11 hits in the morning victory over Quincy.

In the opener, Ferris State scored three times in the first inning and added one more in the second for a 4-2 lead. FSU then tacked on five more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to end the game in five innings. Quincy scored its only two runs in the first and was then shutout the rest of the way.

The Bulldogs' Sam Bates tossed a four-hit victory as she struck out four batters and walked only two in five innings of action. FSU totaled 10 runs on 11 hits off of two different Quincy pitchers in the triumph.

Emily Reed had a game-high three hits for the Bulldogs with Bailey Darwin, Lexi Hongisto and Emily Smith notching two hits apiece. Reed tripled in the win and Hongisto joined Alexx Astorga with doubles. Six different Bulldog hitters produced RBI's with both Hongisto and Sarah Johnson driving in three runs each.

In the nightcap, Ferris State again jumped in front against Assumption with two runs in the first and three more in the second. The Bulldogs added five more in the fith with Assumption totaling its only two runs as the game ended in five innings.

The Bulldogs posted 11 hits overall in game two to five for the opposition. Abby Highway earned the win for the Bulldogs with two strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work. She gave up only two runs on five hits.

Logan Fleming had three hits in game two for the Bulldogs with Reed recording two along with Bates. Darwin homered for the Bulldogs, Reed tripled and FSU also received three doubles from Fleming. Hongisto, Bates and Reed all posted doubles as well in the triumph.

The Bulldogs will take Wednesday off in the Sunshine State before returning to action on Thursday (March 9). FSU takes on LeMoyne at 3:30 p.m. (ET) before facing Holy Family (Pa.) in a 6 p.m. (ET) tilt. Ferris State will also play two more games on Friday and two on Monday before returning home to Michigan.