Ferris State Softball Wins Pair Of Thrilling 6-5 Games In Home Sweep Over Walsh

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team started a six-game weekend homestand with a thrilling sweep over the Walsh Cavaliers on Friday (April 22) afternoon at the FSU Softball Field.

Ferris State notched a 6-5 win in the opening game of the league twinbill and then recorded an identical 6-5 victory in an 11-inning classic in the nightcap against Walsh.

The two wins represented the 29th and 30th victories of the campaign for the Bulldogs, who are now 30-16 overall and 15-7 in the GLIAC to date this year. FSUalso moved into a tie for fourth place overall in the conference and has now won five-straight games to date.

The Bulldogs started game one fast with three runs in the first inning of play followed by two more in the bottom of the second for a 5-0 lead. However, Walsh battled back with three runs in the third and another in the fourth to pull within on. After FSU added a run in the bottom of the fourth, Walsh responded in the sixth, but could not get the eventual tying run as FSU kept WU at bay in the final inning.

Both teams tallied night hits in the opener with both senior second baseman Michelle Tononi and center fielder Alexx Astorga posting two hits each. Tononi scored three runs while Astorga doubled and Emily Smith tripled for the Bulldogs. Tononi, Astorga, Bailey Darwin and Casey Bias all produced RBI's.

Three pitchers saw action for FSU in the first game with Megan Jean getting the start. She tossed three innings, giving up three runs on six hits before Megan Vanderwal hurled two and one-third innings of work. She allowed two runs on three hits with Stacy Thompson finishing the contest for the final one and two-thirds innings of scoreless and hitless action.

In the nightcap, both teams scored a single run in inning one. FSU then tallied three in fourth for a 4-1 lead, but Walsh answered in the bottom of the frame with four of their own to grab the lead. Ferris State finally tied it back up in the top of the seventh and it remained knotted up until the Bulldogs produced the winning run in the 11th.

Overall, Ferris State pounded out 14 hits to nine for Walsh in game two with Darwin recording a game-high five hits to lead the FSU attack. Both Smith and Tononi had two hits each with Tononi doubling and Smith driving in a game-high two RBI's. Tononi also drove in a run as did Astorga, Darwin and Reed. Overall, FSU produced 14 hits in the second game of the twinbill.

FSU's Sam Bates opened the game threw three and a third innings with five runs allowed on seven hits. Thompson pitched the final seven and two-thirds innings for the Bulldogs and did not give up a run on two hits with four strikeouts to earn the victory.

In the 11th inning, Smith was placed on second base as part of the tiebreaker rule. She then advanced to third on the throw off a Tononi ground out and eventually scored on an RBI fly out to center field from Astorga. Walsh had a final opportunity in the bottom of the 11th and moved the runner to third on a sacrifice bunt, but Thompson forced a pop up and then closed the door with a strikeout to end the game.

Ferris State continues its homestand to end the regular season with a double dip on Saturday (April 23) against the Malone Pioneers at the FSU Softball Field. Game one will get underway at 1 p.m. (ET) with game two set for a 3 p.m. (ET) start.

Saturday will be Senior Day as FSU honors its senior quartet of Alyssa Smith, Tononi, Vanderwal and Thompson prior the opening pitch.

The Bulldogs also host Findlay on Sunday (April 24) in their final regular-season series starting at noon in Big Rapids.