Ferris State Wraps Up Day Two Action At Regional Crossover With Two Setbacks

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team played its second set of games on Saturday (Feb. 25) as the Bulldogs continued action in the Midwest Region Crossover with a pair of setbacks in Evansville, Ind. 

Ferris State, which opened the season on Friday, fell to Indianapolis and Truman State (Mo.) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference by identical 10-1 margins in a pair of five-inning contests in day two action at the event hosted by the University of Southern Indiana.

In the opening game, Indianapolis managed to score at least a single run in each of the first four innings of action while outhitting FSU 11-6 en route to the win.

The Bulldogs received two hits, both of which came on doubles, from Lexi Hongisto in the opening game. Third baseman Bailey Darwin also doubled while catcher Emily Reed hit a sacrifice fly and posted an RBI in the setback.

FSU newcomer Abby Highway started the game and allowed three runs on one hit with two walks before giving way to Sam Bates. She gave up seven runs, of which five were earned, on 10 hits with two strikeouts and a walk in three and one-third innings. Finally, senior Megan Hiler came on in relief and did not give up a run or hit in one and two-thirds innings of action.

In the second game against Truman State, the Bulldogs scored first with a single run in the opening inning. However, TSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame and then added three more in the third and four in the fourth in capping the victory. Truman State pounded out nine hits to three for Ferris State, which also had three errors in the field.

The Bulldogs' three hits included doubles from both Hongisto and Sarah Johnson along with a hit from catcher Casey Bias. Hongisto had FSU's lone RBI in the game.

Hiler started game two and gave up seven earned runs on eight hits with a walk and strikeout in three and one-third innings. Highway pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed only a single hit.

The Bulldogs wrap up the regional crossover on Sunday (Feb. 26) with two more games against Bellarmine (Ky.) and Drury (Mo.) starting at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., respectively.