May 1, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State lost a pair of games on Saturday afternoon (May 1) in Allendale to the visiting Ferris State Bulldogs, as FSU won game one by a 7-0 score and took game two by a 12-2 count. The Lakers led the second game, 2-1, before the Bulldog offense took over. In between the two games, seven GVSU senior players were recognized and honored for their career accomplishments.

After the twinbill, Grand Valley State falls to 22-22 on the year with a 10-14 record in the GLIAC, as Ferris State ups its record to 26-16 overall and 17-9 in league play. In Big Rapids on April 14, the Lakers captured a 1-0 victory over FSU before the Bulldogs won game two by a 2-0 score.

The opening game on Saturday belonged to Ferris State righthander Dana Bowler. After the Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the first inning, that would be all the run support that Bowler would need, as she dominated to the tune of a complete game two-hit shutout. Bowler, who is 8-10 on the season, has pitched better recently and showed by striking out seven batters and recording 10 flyball outs. She walked just one batter, facing only three batters over the minimum.

Ferris State tacked on two more runs in the third inning, a solo run in the sixth, and a three-run homer from Lynsay Weaver in the seventh to put the game out of reach. GVSU starter Andrea Nicholson suffered the loss, falling to 8-8 on the year. She allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work. Nicholson walked three batters and struck out three Bulldogs. Sophomore Becky Gill relieved Nicholson and allowed three runs in 1.2 innings in the circle.

For the Lakers, shortstop Maggie Kerigan tallied a one-out single in the third inning and freshman centerfielder Nellie Kosola added a one-out single in the sixth inning before stealing second base.

In the nightcap, Ferris State opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the frame ended on a terrific play from GVSU. Chelsea Morris notched a bloop single to center field with two outs, as Rhea Flores looked to go from first to third on the play. Kosola fired a tremendous throw in from right center field, nailing Flores at third base, as freshman Katie Martin applied the tag for the third out.

That play seemed to give Grand Valley State some energy, as sophomore catcher Carli Raisutis opened up the top of the second with a solo homer to left center field. The blast was her fifth of the season. Three batters later, a few unconventional plays unfolded. First, senior Rebecca Plummer beat out an infield single, but the Bulldogs thought she had been called out and started to leave the field. Plummer made a great heads-up play as FSU ran off the field by moving to second base amidst all the confusion.

On the ensuing play, senior Amanda Rumsey (making her second start of the season) reached on an error on a hard-hit ball to the shortstop, pushing Plummer to third base. The next Laker batter was senior Tina Briggs, who beat out what would be a bang-bang play at first base on a slow roller to the right side of the infield. Plummer scored on the Briggs single, as the throw to first base went into right field. Rumsey was then tossed out at third base by the rightfielder, as she tried to advance all the way from first on the play. After the strange half inning, GVSU lead 2-1.

In the third inning, the Lakers had a strong scoring opportunity as the loaded the bases with one out for senior Breanne Kronberg. She hit a hard shot to third base, which turned into a tailor-made double play, as FSU's Makenzi Peterson stepped on third and threw across the infield to end the inning. Ferris State took the lead for good in the bottom half of the frame by scoring five runs on three hits, putting the score at 6-2.

Again in the fourth inning, GVSU loaded the bases but came away without a run. Senior Stephanee Schrader was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Plummer doubled to right center to put runners on second and third with nobody out. The next two Lakers were retired before Kosola walked to load the bases. Freshman Emily Jones pinch hit and popped out, ending the scoring threat.

Ferris State then added six runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth inning, pushing the score out to 12-2. The Bulldogs totaled 12 hits in game two, as GVSU recorded six base hits. Raisutis was 2-for-2 with the solo homer, while Plummer also went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Briggs and Martin each went 1-for-2. Senior righthander Lauren Rohan took the loss, as she allowed four runs on seven hits in two innings in the circle to fall to 4-8 on the year.

In between the two games, the following players were recognized on Senior Day: Lesley Bates, Briggs, Kronberg, Plummer, Rohan, Rumsey, and Schrader, as the seniors have won 118 games in their career, more than 62 percent of the games they played.

GVSU closes its regular season with a re-scheduled doubleheader on Sunday (May 2) at Saginaw Valley State. The twinbill is slated for a noon start.