Bulldog Softball Comes Up Short In Two Close Games At GVSU

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team had its eight-game winning streak snapped on Sunday (April 7) as the Bulldogs dropped a pair of close road contests to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) rival Grand Valley State in Allendale.

The Lakers took game one 4-2 at the GVSU Softball Field and then recorded a 1-0 victory in the second contest to earn the sweep.  Grand Valley State, which is ranked 12th nationally, held onto first place in the GLIAC as the Lakers improved to 23-3 overall and 11-1 in conference play.

Ferris State entered the series' only a game behind GVSU in the league standings and had won its last eight contests overall, but could manage only two runs on the day in falling to 15-9 overall and 8-4 in the GLIAC.

Both teams posted nine hits apiece in the opening game.  However, in game two, the Lakers received a no-hitter from freshman pitcher Sara Andrasik, which was the first of her career.  The two games took part under cloudy and chilly conditions on Sunday after the doubleheader was postponed a day due to weather conditions.

In game one, the Lakers struck with a single run in the first and the 1-0 lead stood up thru the end of the third frame.  The Bulldogs tied the game at a run apiece in the top of the fourth, but GVSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a 4-1 lead.  FSU was able to score a single run in its final at-bat in the seventh before the Lakers ended the game and held on for the win.

Ferris State stranded 10 runners on base in the opener as GVSU pitcher Hannah Santora won her 13th consecutive start with a complete game victory.

FSU seniors Morgan Kramerich and Lainee Clay both doubled in the opening game for the Bulldogs while both had a team-high two hits apiece.  Clay and senior Lindsey Pettit both scored for the Bulldogs and FSU also received single hits from Pettit, Amy Dunleavy, Alex Wittman, Michelle Tononi and Taylor Verbic.  Tononi and Pettit posted RBI's.

Senior pitcher Dana Bowler tossed all six innings for the Bulldogs in game one and had four strikeouts along with a single walk while allowing four runs on nine hits.  Santora struck out seven for GVSU and walked three in improving to 13-0 on the year.

In game two, the Bulldogs were held without a hit as Andrasik threw seven scoreless innings and had 10 strikeouts along with three walks.  Bowler also pitched game two for the Bulldogs and allowed only three hits and a single run with four K's and no walks in falling to 8-6 overall this campaign.

The Lakers scored the game's only run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly in an inning that was aided by two Bulldog errors.  GVSU's Kayleigh Bertram had two of the Lakers' three hits in the nightcap.

Ferris State returns to action on Wednesday, April 10, as the Bulldogs host Northwood in a league twinbill at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids.  Game one is set for a 3:30 p.m. (ET) start with the second contest to follow at approximately 5:30 p.m. (ET).  

Currently, the Timberwolves are in second place in the league standings and handed GVSU its only league loss of the year to date.