Ferris Erupts For Game One Victory At Hillsdale
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team opened up its weekend slate with an impressive 15-5 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) road win over Hillsdale on Friday (April 29) afternoon in Hillsdale, Mich.
The visiting Bulldogs trailed 3-1 after four innings of play, but exploded for seven runs in the top half of the fifth inning and salted the game away with seven more in the top of the seventh frame to win the first game of the league twinbill.
The Bulldogs tallied 13 hits in the contest compared to only seven for the Chargers and picked up the victory despite having three errors in the field.
Ferris State struck first in the initial inning as junior first baseman Chelsea Morris' RBI double to center field scored senior right fielder Colleen Roney from second base.
Hillsdale came back to score three runs in the bottom of the third on three hits as the Bulldogs totaled two errors in the frame. Jessica Guertin drove in three runs on a double to center field, which was aided by a FSU throwing error.
The Bulldogs answered, though, in the fifth inning as they tallied seven runs on five hits. After a Lainee Clay walk to start the inning, sophomore outfielder Morgan Kramerich singled up the middle for an RBI. Then, two walks later, Morris singled for another RBI, which was followed by a three-run double from junior outfielder Stephanie Dusendang. Senior shortstop Lynsay Weaver doubled one batter later to center field and scored on a single from sophomore designated player Lindsey Pettit before the inning came to a close.
Ferris State shut down the Chargers in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as Hillsdale recorded only a single hit in the three innings combined.
In the seventh, the Bulldogs posted six hits while scoring seven additional runs. Dusendang led off the inning with a single to center field and scored on yet another single from Pettit. Kramerich's RBI single helped score Pettit and a sacrifice RBI from Roney brought home freshman Brittney Buti. The inning wasn't over as junior third baseman Makenzi Peterson drove in two runs on a triple to center field before scoring herself off a wild pitch. Finally, Morris ended the scoring run with a solo homer to right field.
Hillsdale registered a pair of hits and scored two runs in the seventh on a home run to left field by Jennifer Berlet.
Sophomore pitcher Dana Bowler allowed seven hits and five runs while pitching all seven innings for the Bulldogs as she improved to 12-9 overall in the circle this campaign. She struck out four batters.
Meanwhile, the Chargers used three different pitchers with Brittany Hulett taking the loss after giving up four runs in one and a third innings of action.
Morris and Kramerich both tallied three hits apiece for the Bulldogs while Dusendang and Pettit also posted multiple-hit performances. Morris and Dusendang both had three RBI's each.
The victory lifted the Bulldogs to 17-20 overall and 14-11 in league action with Hillsdale falling to 14-27 overall and 10-16 in the GLIAC this campaign.