Ferris State Scores Twice In Final Inning To Pull Out Victory Over Nationally-Ranked Davenport

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team wrapped up non-conference play with an exciting 4-3 road win over West Michigan foe Davenport on Thursday (March 26) afternoon at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in Grand Rapids.

The Bulldogs scored twice in the seventh inning and kept the Panthers at bay in the bottom half of the inning to pull out the road triumph. The game against the NAIA's 15th-ranked Panthers was played under temperatures in the 30's and windy conditions, which forced the cancellation of game two of the scheduled doubleheader.

In the lone game played, Davenport struck first following three and a half scoreless innings with a single run in the bottom of the fourth. The Bulldogs, though, responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to grab a 2-1 lead before DU answered in the bottom half with two runs of its own to take a 3-2 margin.

The score stood thru the sixth, but Ferris State produced two runs in the seventh on a pair of hits. FSU's Kayti Carlson walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A walk by Halley Utter put two on base before the Bulldogs' Rachael Gabrielson then came on to pinch run for Carlson. Both Gabrielson and Utter scored soon after as shortstop Sarah Johnson tripled to right center with two outs to put the eventual tying and winning runs on the board.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Bulldogs then shut the door on the Panthers as FSU retired the side on three consecutive batters to pull out the victory.

Ferris State received a complete game effort from pitcher Stacy Thompson, who allowed only three runs on six hits in seven innings of work. She walked three in the contest while improving to 3-3 overall this year.

Johnson led the Bulldogs offensively with two hits and accounted for all four Bulldog runs with four RBI's in the game. She doubled and tripled in the contest for FSU, which won for the seventh time this year.

Along with Johnson, FSU received hits from Carlson and catcher Emily Reed. The Bulldogs four hits included a double by Carlson as well.

On the Davenport side, the Panthers compiled six hits with Karli Myers accounting for two RBI's on her first home run of the season. Pitcher Emily Mayes took the loss in the circle despite a season-high 12 strikeouts. She walked four and allowed four runs on four hits overall.

The Bulldogs will open Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on Sunday (March 29) against Malone in Canton, Ohio. The twinbill against the Pioneers starts at 12 & 2 p.m. (ET). FSU then faces Walsh on Monday (March 30) in Canton as the two-game set against the Cavaliers has been shifted from Saturday due to field and weather conditions.

Following the trip to Ohio, the Bulldogs are slated to return home to play their first home games against Saginaw Valley State in GLIAC action on Tuesday (March 31) afternoon at the FSU Softball Field. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for 3 p.m. (ET) with game two starting at approximately 5 p.m. (ET).

The Bulldogs are also slated to be at home for twinbills against Lake Erie and Ashland on Friday and Saturday (April 3-4) of next week, respectively.