Ferris State Softball Blasts Hillsdale, 10-2, In Five Innings

Senior Amanda Harrington (St. Joseph/Stevensville-Lakeshore) produced a career game-high five runs batted in this Sunday (April 11) as the Ferris State University softball team grounded the Hillsdale Chargers, 10-2, in five innings for a game-one victory in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader at HC's Williams Field in Hillsdale, Mich.

Harrington turned in a perfect performance at the plate as she totaled two base hits in as many at bats while scoring twice to go along with the five RBIs as the Bulldogs scored 10 times despite collecting only five base hits.  

The win improved Ferris State's record to 14-10 overall as the Bulldogs are now 5-3 in conference play.  Hillsdale falls to 7-18 overall and 2-11 in the GLIAC with the loss.

Ferris State quickly erased a 1-0 Hillsdale lead in the top of the third with four runs on just one hit and a Charger error.  Sophomore third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids) delivered the key hit on a pitch by Hillsdale starter Taylor Schulty with a three-run shot over the left field fence for her second home run of this season. 

The Bulldogs would score two runs in the fourth to go up 6-2 thanks to a two-RBI single off the bat of Amanda Harrington.  Ferris State proceeded to seal Hillsdale's fate in the next frame with a four-run output on a pair of hits, which featured a three-run homer by Amanda Harrington to right field off Charger relief pitcher Kellie Hirst. 

Harrington and Peterson would combined to drive in eight of the Bulldogs' 10 runs.  Junior outfielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South) was productive on the basepaths with a team-leading three runs scored.

The run support was more than enough for freshman pitcher Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.), who allowed the two Charger runs on five hits.  She struck out five and walked one to improve her season record at 5-4 in the circle.