SPRING 2008 BLOG 16: Home field remains an advantage for Ferris

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – A doubleheader between Ferris State and Lake Superior State originally scheduled to take place in Sault Ste. Marie ended up being played in Big Rapids at the FSU Softball Field – advantage Bulldogs.

Ferris put up 13 runs on 14 hits in a 13-0 victory in game one and enjoyed 15 runs on 14 more hits as part of a 15-2 win in game two to sweep the Lakers. The wins improved the Bulldogs to 22-11 overall and13-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. One of the rallying cries this season, for the Bulldogs, has been to get the intensity level up and keep that level up. Splitting a pair of doubleheaders in Ohio against Findlay and Ashland reinforced in the minds of the players that need to stay focused and intense.

“I think one of the things we’ve been doing better is we’ve been focusing on getting up and then not letting up whe

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n we have the advantage,” said Ferris freshman outfielder Colleen Roney, who was one of several players to turn in big afternoons as she finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in, in game one, and 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and one run driven in. “I think we did a much better job, as a team, of staying focused in these (conference) games.”

Ferris has done a good job staying focused on its home field as the team owns a record of 10-0 at the FSU Softball Field with sweeps during the week of nationally-ranked Grand Valley State and then Lake Superior State. A big part of that has been a much-improved offense. Saturday, Roney had plenty of offensive help. Junior catcher Krystle Bailey was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, senior third baseman Katie Kraai was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs and sophomore Kayle Stevenson finished with two hits in two trips with a run and two RBI. Sophomore Amanda Harrington was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI while freshman Lynsay Weaver was 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. McKenzie West, a junior shortstop, was 1-for-2 with a homer.

In game two, Ferris was equally dominant as freshman Brooke Lewis had two hits and three driven in, junior Sarah Mueller had two hits and two RBI and Roney also had two hits.

Pitching-wise, Mueller earned the game-one win as she pitched the first three innings, allowed one hit, one walk and struck out three. In relief, Stevenson tossed the final two innings and allowed two hits, one walk and struck out four. In game two, Stevenson started and earned the win as she threw three innings, allowed one hit and struck out three. In a relief role, Rhea Flores tossed two innings and allowed four hits, two runs (one earned) and struck out a pair.

For the Bulldogs, it was the complete package that led to another sweep.

“Despite who we’re playing, we once again come up with good offensive production, our defense was solid and we got good pitching in the circle,” Ferris head coach Keri Becker said. “We got everything I could ask for (from the team) and I was happy to see that as we continue to prepare for some more tough games to come.”