Bulldogs Suffer Two Sunday Setbacks Against Strong Competition At The Spring Games

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad went right back to work on Sunday (March 8) morning at The Spring Games in Florida with a pair of early morning contests following a late game the previous night in Clermont.

In Sunday's opening game, the Bulldogs played an extended contest in a 10-9 setback to Limestone (N.C.) in eight innings at the National Training Center. FSU then fell to Minnesota State 10-0 in the second game to wrap up the day's action in their third-straight day of work in the Sunshine State.

In game one, Ferris State scored the first three runs of the contest in the top half of the first inning before Limestone tied it back up after two complete innings. FSU built a 7-3 lead after four, but Limestone closed the game with two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to tie it back up.

In the extra inning, the Bulldogs picked up a run in their at-bat, but Limestone scored twice to pull out the victory on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the eighth. FSU  was outhit 13-10 for the game.

FSU's Sarah Johnson, Emily Reed and Taylor Verbic each had a pair of hits in the opener with both Verbic and Sam Bates doubling in the game. Bates produced a team-high three RBI's with Reed and Kayti Carlson accounting for two each.

Sophomore Megan Hiler pitched four and one-thirds innings for the Bulldogs while giving up five runs on seven hits with five walks and three K's. Megan Vanderwal tossed 1.2 innings in relief with both two runs and hits allowed. Bates also hurled 1.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

In game two, the Bulldogs managed only three hits as Minnesota State produced 14 and scored at least one run in all five innings of the shortened game. The Mavericks closed the door with four runs in their final at-bat in the fifth and held the Bulldogs off the scoreboard on the day.

FSU's three hits in the second game of the non-league twinbill came from Reed, Bates and Bailey Darwin. Three different individuals each had three hits for Minnesota State.

Bates threw four and one-third innings for the Bulldogs while giving up nine runs on 12 hits. She had three strikeouts and walked only one. Vanderwal tossed two-thirds of an inning and allowed a single run on two hits.

Meanwhile, Liby Bemis remained unbeaten on the year with the shutout victory as she allowed only three hits for Minnesota State with both three walks and strikeouts.

Ferris State continues action Monday (March 9) with two more contests at The Spring Games in Clermont. FSU faces Truman State (Mo.) at 1 p.m. (ET) followed by a game versus Winona State (Minn.) starting at 3 p.m. (ET).