Ferris State On Short End Of 3-2 Decision
It was too little, too late for the Ferris State University softball team in Saturday's (April 16) second game conference matchup with Tiffin as Bulldogs scored once in the seventh and the potential game-tying run was thrown out at home in a 3-2 loss to the Dragons at the FSU Varsity Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Bulldogs, who are now 15-17 overall and 12-8 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), trailed Tiffin 3-1 entering the top of the seventh inning. In the stanza, sophomore designated player Lindsey Pettit (Portland) smacked a one-out double into the right center field gap to get FSU going. Freshman Brittney Buti (Niles) was inserted as a pinch runner for Pettit and advanced to third base following senior catcher Rachel Mueller's (Milford/Santa Clarita, Calif. Valencia) infield single. Sophomore second baseman Lainee Clay (Wheelersburg, Ohio) came up to bat and proceeded to lace a two-base into left center field which scored Buti. However, Tiffin's Emily Shaw retrieved the ball and fired a bead on line to catcher Lesy Herbert who tagged out freshman pinch-runner Alex Wittman (St. Joseph) to deny the Bulldogs with the potential game-tying run. Junior outfielder Morgan Kramerich (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) then went down swinging against Tiffin hurler Amber Young (6-4) for the game's final out.
A wild pitch brought home the initial run of the contest in the top of the first inning as senior outfielder Colleen Roney (Wheaton, Ill./Glen Ellyn Glenbard South) scored. Tiffin would draw into a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning on sacrifice flyout by Amanda Temple.
The contest remained knotted up at one run apiece until the bottom of the sixth inning when Tiffin recorded back-to-back home runs by Tiffany Smith and Meagan Baird to left field off freshman pitcher Amy Dunleavy (Canton). The FSU hurler concluded the game by scattering six hits and fanning four to go with one base on balls. Her counterpart, Tiffin's Tiffany Young chalked up nine strikeouts and walked three while allowing six hits in seven innings as the Dragons moved to 25-10 overall and 16-4 in the GLIAC.
Three of the Ferris State batters to post a base hit did so for extra bases as Colleen Roney, Lainee Clay, and Lindsey Pettit all tallied a double in the nightcap.
The Bulldogs continue their homestand this Sunday (April 17) by taking on the Wayne State Warriors in a pair of outings at Big Rapids. Game one will commence at noon (EDT) and the second game to follow at 2 p.m. (EDT).
Notes: Lynsay Weaver had her team-leading 16-game hitting string snapped in the game by going hitless in three at bats. Her hitting span began on March 26 in game two of a doubleheader at Ohio Dominican . . . Weaver's 32 hits this spring in 32 contests is a career high, surpassing her 31 hits set as a freshman in 53 2008 season appearances . . . Chelsea Morris' 32 hits this season in 32 games is a career season high, surpassing her 30 hits output a season ago in 40 outings . . . Lindsey Pettit's double extended her current hitting streak to 11 games.
