Bulldog Softball Earns Split In Pair Of 5-0 Games At Wayne State

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team opened up a weekend road swing by splitting a pair of 5-0 games on Friday (April 18) afternoon against Wayne State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play at Detroit.

The Bulldogs took the victory in the opening game, which was resumed from last Sunday when the home plate umpire could not continue due to a medical issue with no score in the bottom of the second inning.

However, in Friday's second game, the Warriors came back to beat the Bulldogs by the same score at the WSU Softball Stadium in the Motor City.

Ferris State broke the scoreless tie in the opener with a run in the fourth inning and the Bulldogs tacked on four more runs in the sixth while limiting WSU to only a pair of hits in the game.  FSU totaled 10 hits in the first game victory and was also aided by three Wayne State errors in the field.

The Bulldogs picked up their 17th victory of the season behind a complete game performance from senior ace Dana Bowler, who struck out eight batters and walked only three in posting her 10th win of the year.

Despite leaving 12 runners on base in the game, the Bulldogs were able to post 10 hits and score five runs.  Senior Lainee Clay and junior Amy Dunleavy both notched two hits each and both led the way with two RBI's apiece.  Dunleavy registered her sixth home run of the year with both Clay and Jordan Maxwell posting doubles.  Senior catcher Liz Hamming also homered for Ferris State.

Additionally, the Bulldogs received single base hits from Alyssa Smith, Lindsey Pettit, Michelle Tononi and Taylor Verbic in winning the opener.  FSU also drew four walks in a game played under cloudy skies and chilly temperatures.

The story was virtually reversed in game two as the Warriors totaled 10 hits to three for the Bulldogs in posting the split.  WSU scored a single run in both the third and fourth frames with three more in the sixth.

WSU's Mackenzie Boehler threw all seven frames for the Warriors and walked none while posting seven strikeouts in earning her 12th triumph of the season.  

The loss went to FSU senior Emily Carlson, who allowed four runs on nine hits in five and one-third innings before giving way to Dunleavy. She gave up one hit and a single run in one and two-thirds innings.  Together, the Bulldog duo had four strikeouts and three walks.

Ferris State's hits in game two were posted by Smith, Clay and Dunleavy, but the Bulldogs could not put a run on the board.

With the split, Ferris State is now 17-11 overall and 9-5 in league action this season.  WSU owns a 18-17 mark and is now 9-6 in conference play.

Ferris State is back in action on Saturday (April 20) with a league twinbill against Ohio Dominican starting at 1 p.m. (ET) in Columbus, Ohio.  The two-game set will be followed by another conference twinbill on Sunday (April 21) at Tiffin with the first pitch beginning at 12 p.m. (ET).