Ferris State Opens Action At The Spring Games With Two Setbacks In Friday Action

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team opened up its spring break trek to Florida with a pair of setbacks on Friday (March 6) in Clermont at The Spring Games held at the National Training Center.

FSU began an 18-game stretch in the Sunshine State with a 4-3 setback against Southern New Hampshire in afternoon play before falling to regional foe Quincy (Ill.) by an 11-3 score in the nightcap.

In the opening game, Ferris State jumped in front 3-0 by scoring a pair of runs in the fourth frame along with one more in the fifth, but Southern New Hampshire rallied and produced four runs in the top half of the sixth. FSU was not able to put another run on the board in either of the final two Bulldog at-bats.

FSU outhit Southern New Hampshire 8-6 in the opening game and neither team had an error in the field.

Senior Cara DeLange suffered the setback in the opener by allowing four runs on six hits with six strikeouts and a single walk in five and two-thirds innings of action. Megan Vanderwal pitched in relief for the final one and one-third innings and allowed no runs or hits with no walks or strikeouts.

Ferris State was led at the plate by shortstop Sarah Johnson, who produced three hits. Emily Reed had two hits, including a double, while left fielder Sam Bates also totaled two hits with a two-bagger for the Bulldogs. Sophomore catcher Casey Bias had two RBI's with Kayti Carlson accounting for the other run batted in.

Southern New Hampshire's Nicole Gubellini earned the win despite allowing all eight hits and three runs in six innings of work. She had four K's and a single walk. Rebecca Sherwood came on in relief to earn the save.

The six Southern New Hampshire hits all came from different batters with Mo Hannan recording a double in the contest.

In the second game against Quincy, FSU jumped out to a 3-1 lead before the Hawks rallied back to score the victory. No statistics are yet available from game two against Quincy.

Ferris State continues action in The Spring Games with a pair of contests on Saturday (March 7). FSU faces West Chester (Pa.) in the opening game at 1 p.m. (ET) before facing West Liberty State (W.Va.) in evening action at 7 p.m. (ET) in Clermont.