Ferris softball team survives trip to Sault Ste. Marie

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State University is home to a softball team that doesn't have the great record, but has enough talent to put a scare in opponents.

In four games against Lake Superior this spring, Ferris State University has gotten a couple of scares, but still has emerged 4-0 against the Lakers (a perfect record that was nothing short of essential as the Bulldogs seek to stay in the hunt for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and for positioning relative to GLIAC Tournament seeding and NCAA Division II Tournament seeding. But, those two are well down the line for Ferris.

Monday, the Bulldogs went to the Soo and defeated the Lakers 9-0 in the first game and 6-5 in game two to pull off the sweep as Ferris improves to 20-13 overall and 11-6 in GLIAC

action, On April 4, Ferris swept LSSU 7-0 and 6-5.

In Monday's 9-0 win, Ferris showed its depth as freshman catcher Liz Hamming played and showed a good stick as she batted 2-for-2 with two RBI and a double. Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Dusendang was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. For all the numbers from the game, check the box score, here.

In Monday's second game, sophomore Makenzi Peterson, senior Rhea Flores and sophomore Chelsea Morris each had two hits. Morris had two RBI. Junior shortstop Lynsay Weaver batted 1-for-2 with two runs driven in. For more numbers from game two, visit the FSU Web site for the box score, here.

Wednesday, the Bulldogs host Northwood University in a one-game set to make up for a game earlier this season that was rained out in Big Rapids. The Bulldogs and Timberwolves take the diamond at 3:30 p.m. at Ferris. It's a big game for Ferris as Northwood is playing very well this season and, as of now, is one of the better teams in the GLIAC.

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Ferris Sweeps Lake Superior State

Ferris State's Lynsay Weaver gets an out at second base during Friday afternoon's home games at the FSU Softball Field against Lake Superior State. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS - After struggling to string together hits in a pair of losses to 14th-ranked Saginaw Valley State University, Ferris State University had no such troubles on Friday afternoon in softball action against Lake Superior State University.

The Bulldogs pounded out 12 hits in game one and eight more in game two as they rolled to wins of 7-0 and 6-5 over the visiting Lakers in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at the FSU Softball Field. After struggling to string together hits in the two losses to the Cardinals, on Wednesday, Ferris head coach Keri Becker went to work with her assistant coaches (Lesa Bickley, Dawn Thompson and Jeannine Ravellette) to shake things up a little bit.

"We needed to do something to help them mentally. For most of them it wasn't a mechanical thing," Becker said as her team improved to 11-9 overall and 2-2 in the GLIAC standings. "So, we adjusted our practice that way and we put some pressure on them and still got a lot of reps to get a good feel."

In game one, the eight hits could hardly have been more balanced. Accounting for the eight hits were: Rachel Wade, Morgan Kramerich, Rachel Mueller, Rhea Flores, Chelsea Morris, Makenzi Peterson, Stephanie Dusendang and Amanda Harrington. Mueller had a two-RBI double and also with RBIs were Wade, Peterson, Dusendang and Harrington.

In game two, Ferris continued to hit the ball well. Wade had three hits (including a double) and two RBI, Mueller had a hit, Flores had two hits, Lindsey Pettit had a hit, Peterson had two doubles and an RBI, Harrington had two hits (including a triple) and three RBI, and Colleen Roney had a hit.

"The other thing we worked on was pitch selection," Becker said. "For some of them, that was an issue. Those two things we worked on Thursday and I saw a good result (on Friday) not only with their pitch selection, but also with their confidence."

In game one, Kayle Stevenson was the winning pitcher as she struck out seven and walked one in seven innings to improve to 4-5. In game two, Flores moved to 4-0 as she pitched six innings and struck out five. Dana Bowler came in and earned her second save of the season as she tossed one inning and struck out one.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to host Northwood University on Saturday in a doubleheader that starts at 1 p.m.

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New recruits, old faces returning create optimism

HOUSTON – A veteran group is expected to return next spring to the softball diamond for Ferris State University.

Ferris’ strong junior class is led by all-region players in first baseman Amanda Jager and pitcher/outfielder Sarah Mueller. In addition to Jager and Mueller, the Bulldogs’ veteran group includes 2008 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament Most Valuable Player Holly Bruntjens, a pitcher; and catcher Krystle Bailey. That quartet leads an experienced group of players head coach Keri Becker is expected to lean on next spring.

In addition to the veterans, Ferris (which finished its season 35-18) boasts a solid recruiting class for 2009. Big Rapids High School star Makenzi Peterson, a talented and competitive local product who plays shortstop for the Cardinals; Rockford High School’s Stephanie Dusendang, who is a catcher and outfielder and has prepped for former Bulldog softball star Casey Munger-Dunham; Jenison’s Chelsea Morris, a talented first baseman, third baseman and outfielder from Jenison; and Frankfort’s Allison Webber, who plays third and short, comprise the four signees Becker has commitments from.

“I am very encouraged by our recruiting class,” said Becker, whose team had its 2008 spring season end at the hands of top-ranked Lock Haven by a 3-0 score in an elimination game at the 2008 NCAA Division II Softball National Championships at Memorial Park in Houston on Friday afternoon. “We already have four players who are signed and we could be adding maybe another walk-on or two depending on how some things work out. I think we’re going to have a nice mix of experienced players returning with some good new players coming in.

“The loss of (senior third baseman) Katie (Kraai) is going to mean some big shoes for us to fill,” added Becker. “But, I think we have some good players on our team and some quality players coming in who will compete to try and help us fill in those big shoes.”

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