Mount Olive Tags Ferris State With A 5-2 Loss

The two-game winning streak for the Ferris State University softball team came to an abrupt end this Monday (March 7) morning as the Bulldogs dropped a 5-2 decision to Mount Olive (N.C.) in a Florida Rebel Spring Games Tournament matchup at the Fortune Road Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.

Seven individuals hit safely for Ferris State, which now sports a 2-3 overall record this season to date.  While the Bulldogs performed well at the plate, defensively was a question mark as Ferris State committed four errors in the non-conference encounter.

Mount Olive plated the contest's first three runs, all in the top of the first inning, off FSU starting pitcher Amy Dunleavy (Canton).  The freshman hurler gave up three hits to the Trojans in the opening frame as Aubrey Reinhard and Alyssa Bradshaw tallied back-to-back run-scoring hits with a double and a two-RBI single, respectively.

Ferris State answered in the bottom half of the first, scoring once on a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Amy Dunleavy.  Sophomore center fielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) started the inning with a double to left field off MOC starting pitcher Carly White.  A sacrifice from senior right fielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South) moved Kramerich to third and she would score the Bulldogs' initial run on the Dunleavy's groundout. 

In the fourth inning, the two teams exchanged a run apiece as the Trojans would hold a 4-2 advantage.  Amy Dunleavy held Mount Olive scoreless through the second and third innings before Kassie Lowe doubled in the fourth to account for the Trojans' run.  The Bulldogs were able to put their first two batters on base in the bottom of the fourth with no outs and eventually would reap the benefit as junior left fielder Stephanie Dusendang (Comstock Park/Rockford) hit the ball into center field to score freshman pinch runner Brittney Buti (Niles).  Morgan Kramerich would reach base on a fielder's choice with one out, but Carly White was able to retire the next two FSU batters to end the inning.

Mount Olive, which also accumulated seven hits but had no errors, would add an insurance run in the sixth inning on a RBI double by Kelly Minshew.

Amy Dunleavy's season record fell to 1-2 with the loss as she allowed seven hits and five runs while chalking up four strikeouts in five-plus innings.  Junior Emily Carlson (Wixom/Walled Lake Western), who relieved Dunleavy in the sixth inning, didn't allow a hit in the final inning and a half.   For Mount Olive, starter Carly White earned the decision with five hits and two runs allowed in four innings before giving way to Sarah Saunders, who picked up a save with two hits and two strikeouts in the final three innings.

Ferris State stranded nine runners on the bases and Mount Olive totaled six runners left on the basepaths. 

Notes: Morgan Kramerich and Colleen Roney both have current team-leading five-game hitting streaks this spring.