Bulldog Softball Splits Two Games To Open Rebel Spring Games

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team officially opened the 2013 campaign by splitting two games on Saturday (March 9) during first day competition at the Florida Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Bulldogs lost the opening game of the seven-day event as Minnesota State scored a 2-0 win over the Bulldogs in morning action.  However, Ferris State came back to post an impressive 13-3 win over Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) in the second game of the twinbill at the Osceola County Sports Complex.

The win over Wheeling Jesuit marked the first victory for the Bulldogs under first-year head coach Marie Foster in regular-season action.

The game versus Minnesota State in the opener marked the first action for the Bulldogs this spring while the Mavericks were playing their 11th contest of the spring as they improved to 7-4 overall.

Bulldog senior pitcher Dana Bowler went the distance for the Bulldogs in the opener in a pitcher's duel.  She gave up only the two runs in six innings pitched while hurling 12 strikeouts.  FSU was able to put runners on base in three of the final four innings, but could not get a run across the plate. Both of Minnesota State's runs came in the bottom of the third.

In the opening game, the Bulldogs received single-base hits from shortstop Michelle Tononi, first baseman Lindsey Pettit and third baseman Allison Weber.

Ferris State started quickly in the second contest against Wheeling Jesuit as the Bulldogs erupted for 10 runs in the initial inning.  Wheeling Jesuit scored a run in the second and two more in the top half of the third before the Bulldogs closed the door in the five-inning game by adding three more in the third.

Senior Emily Carlson earned the win for the Bulldogs as she pitched three innings and gave up only two runs on four hits with a strikeout.  Junior Amy Dunleavy tossed two innings and allowed a single run on two hits with three strikeouts for FSU.

Pettit homered for the Bulldogs in game two while Dunleavy along with seniors Morgan Kramerich and Liz Hamming all doubled.  Both Dunleavy and Pettit drove in two runs apiece while both Dunleavy and Hamming registered three hits apiece as part of FSU's 11 total hits in the outing.

Ferris State will play a total of 12 games over a seven-day period that runs thru Friday (March 15) in the Sunshine State with the non-conference contests to be held between the Osceola County Softball Complex, Fortune Road Athletic Complex, and Oren Brown Park.

The Bulldogs will square off against Minnesota State-Moorhead and Caldwell on Sunday (March 10) at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (ET), respectively.