Bulldogs Bounce Back For Game Two Win As Becker Reaches 400 Coaching Win Plateau
Ferris State University head coach Keri Becker picked up her 400th career victory as the Bulldog softball team defeated Tiffin, 4-1, in the second game of Saturday's (April 17) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich.
Becker, who's currently in her 13th season at Ferris State, holds the distinction of being the Bulldogs' all-time winningest coach with all of her victories coming at FSU.
Ferris State took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids) delivered a single down the left field line to score senior outfielder Rachel Wade (Canton), who had lead off the game with a bases on balls.
Neither team was able to generate a run until the top of the fourth when Ferris State scored a pair of runs on as many hits to claim a 3-0 lead. Senior designated player Rhea Flores (Dearborn Heights/Southgate Anderson) started the inning off with a double. Freshman pinch runner Delaney Eubank (Frankfort) would proceed to score FSU's second run of the outing on sophomore first baseman Chelsea Morris' (Jenison) RBI single. The Bulldogs produced another run in the stanza as sophomore pinch runner Stephanie Dusendang (Comstock Park/Rockford) crossed home plate as a result of junior shortstop Lynsay Weaver's (Bay City/All Saints) groundout.
Tiffin generated its lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning courtesy of a run-scoring single as Ferris State was able to avoid further damage. The Dragons registered four hits in the inning and had the bases loaded with no outs which prompted a switch in FSU pitchers as Rhea Flores came in to relieve senior starter Kayle Stevenson (Holland/West Ottawa). Flores was able to get the first two outs on a double play and then the all-important third out on a flyout to right field.
Makenzi Peterson would knock in another Ferris State run in the seventh on a hard hit to second base which allowed freshman outfielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) to score all of the way from second base. Rhea Flores gave up two hits in the bottom half of the inning but prevented the Dragons from scoring to notch her first save of this season.
Kayle Stevenson (7-6) went the first four innings to notch the victory as she fanned four and walked three while allowing five hits. Flores scattered two hits and struck out two in three innings of relief duty.
Makenzi Peterson's two hits led the way offensively for the Bulldogs, who collected six base hits in the contest.
Ferris State, which is presently 17-12 overall and 8-5 in the GLIAC, will host the Ashland (Ohio) Eagles this Sunday (April 18) in a conference doubleheader at Big Rapids. The first pitch for the opening game will be at noon (EDT) with the second game to follow around 2 p.m. (EDT). Prior to game one, the four senior student-athletes on the 2010 team will be recognized in a special ceremony as part of the "FSU Alumni/Senior Day" promotion.
