Ferris State Softball Opens GLIAC Play In A Big Way With Impressive Road Sweep

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team started off Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play with a bang on Sunday (March 29) as the Bulldogs exploded offensively to sweep Malone University on the road in league action at Canton, Ohio.

FSU won its first two GLIAC games of the 2015 season as the Bulldogs produced 26 hits, including four homers, and tallied 19 runs in the twinbill. FSU took game one 13-6 and then pulled out a 6-1 victory in the nightcap to start league action with a 2-0 mark.

In the opener, Ferris State scored 13 runs on 15 hits and took advantage of two Malone errors en route to the victory. FSU built a 4-1 lead after the initial two innings and added nine runs over the next three frames to put the game out of reach.

The Bulldogs' 15 hits in the opener included three each from shortstop Sarah Johnson and catcher Emily Reed. Both Johnson and designated player Sydney Hasselbach drove in four runs apiece while four different players added multiple hits.

Hasselbach hit two home runs in the first game while Johnson tripled and doubled in the FSU victory. Sam Bates also had a double with Reed homering during the hit parade.

Bates started the game in the circle and allowed only four runs on four hits with six walks and three strikeouts in three innings of work. Sophomore Megan Hiler hurled the final four innings and gave up only two runs on six hits with two K's and no walks while earning the win.

The Pioneers had three different pitchers combine to give up the 15 hits and 13 runs. They posted seven strikeouts and six walks with starter Kari Hall earning the loss after hurling only one and one-third innings.

In game two, Ferris State posted 11 hits and allowed only five to the Pioneers as Megan Vanderwal tossed a full seven innings and allowed only a single run on five hits. She also had six strikeouts with only one walk in picking up the victory.

Ferris State scored a single run in the first inning and added another in the third to take a 2-0 lead into the fifth. FSU then tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the frame and matched Malone in the sixth as both teams scored once to account for the final margin.

Johnson, Bates and Hallie Utter all recorded two hits in game two for the Bulldogs with Hasselbach producing her third home run of the afternoon. She had three RBI's while Bates added two and notched a double in the triumph.

Stephanie Byrne suffered the loss in the circle for Malone after allowing six runs on 11 hits in six innings. She had six K's and one walk against 32 Bulldog batters at the plate.

The league-opening doubleheader was played with temperatures in the 30's at Pioneer Field.

With the two wins, the Bulldogs ran their winning streak to three consecutive games overall. FSU has now won five of its last eight outings to date this year.

Ferris State remains in Canton to face Walsh on Monday (March 30) with the first pitch for game one set for 1 p.m. (ET) and game two to follow at approximately 3 p.m. (ET).

The Bulldogs then will return home and are slated to play their first home contests on Tuesday (March 31) at the FSU Softball Field versus Saginaw Valley State starting at 3 and 5 p.m. (ET), respectively, if weather permits.