Softball Concludes Florida Spring Break Trip With A Loss

The Ferris State University softball team's bats remained quiet in their final appearance at the Florida Rebel Spring Games Tournament this Saturday (March 12) as the Bulldogs were limited to three hits in a 4-1 setback to Wisconsin-Parkside in Kissimmee, Fla.

Wisconsin-Parkside wasted no time in capitializing on FSU starting pitcher Dana Bowler (Lockport, Ill.) as the Rangers scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning on four base hits.  UWP catcher Meg McCormick, who had two hits and three RBIs in the game, delivered a two-run single up the middle of the Bulldog infield of Bowler for the inning's last two runs after right fielder Kristin Luevano had previously delivered a run-scoring single.

Bowler, a sophomore, was able to get in groove in the pitching circle as she held the Rangers scoreless the next four innings.  Unfortunately, Ferris State was unsuccessful in tallying a run on UWP starting pitcher Jill Vondrak until the top of the sixth inning.  Senior shortstop Lynsay Weaver (Bay City/All Saints) would generate the Bulldogs' lone run as she lead off the sixth with her first home run of the season on a solo shot whcih sailed over the center field fence.

Wisconsin-Parkside proceeded to get the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Megan McCormick ripped a run-scoring two-base hit with two outs off Bowler (2-3), who gave up five hits and struck out five batters in six innings of work. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Vondrak retired the first two Bulldog hitters before junior third baseman Allison Webber (Frankfort) reached base on a single through the left side of the Wisconsin-Parkside infield.  The next batter, senior catcher Rachel Mueller (Milford/Santa Clarita Valencia) struck out looking to conclude the game. 

Ferris State totaled three hits in the contest as Weaver and Webber registered a hit along with junior third baseman Makenzi Peterson (Big Rapids).

FSU is now idle until March 25 when the Bulldogs open up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on the road versus the Lake Erie Storm in Painesville, Ohio.  Opening pitch for the conference doubleheader's first game is set for 3:30 p.m. (EDT) with the second game to follow around 5:30 p.m. (EDT).  The contests will mark the first-ever meetings between the two GLIAC-member schools.