Let’s play ball

Team prepares for six GLIAC games

Although another weekend series was cancelled for the Ferris State women’s softball team, they’ll be back in action April 11-13.

The Bulldogs had their GLIAC double-header against Grand Valley State cancelled on April 5. This is the third GLIAC series cancelled for the Bulldogs this season, due to weather.

The team is preparing for a six-game weekend which will feature three GLIAC double-headers. The Bulldogs will square off against Malone (8-10-1, 0-4) on April 11, Saginaw Valley State (14-3, 6-0) on April 12, and Wayne State (22-4, 2-0) on April 13.

Ferris pitcher and senior leader Amy Dunleavy said the team is anxious and more than ready to go out on the field and out of the rubber room.

“We’re really excited to get back out on the field and really even more excited for this home-stand,” Dunleavy said. “We’re a young team and it’s not easy playing six games in one weekend, especially if you’re not hitting the ball well that day or pitching well that day. We just have to have a short memory and roll with the positives. Our freshmen are eager and athletic and more than ready to go.”

Dunleavy is batting .244 this season with three doubles and seven runs batted in. She also leads the team in base on balls with nine. Dunleavy has also posted a 4-3 record in the circle with a 3.50 earned run average in eight appearances.

For red-shirt freshman pitcher Stacy Thompson, being stuck in the rubber room so often this season has been difficult, but she says she is more than ready to get out on the field. Thompson has appeared in nine games for the Bulldogs, which includes one start, and she has a 0.00 earned run average in 9.2 innings pitched.

“I’m just really looking forward to getting back out onto the field and playing some games, since most of our work so far this season was done in Florida,” Thompson said. “It’s a good chance for us to face some good competition and make some quick adjustments where we need to throughout the weekend. It can be overwhelming playing six games in three days, but we just have to take it one inning at a time.”

The most anticipated games of the weekend are against Saginaw Valley on Saturday and Wayne State on Sunday. Dunleavy and Thompson are both looking forward to those matchups and winning against their rivals.

“Both matchups are big games,” Dunleavy said. “In terms of GLIAC competition. Both teams are always tough each year, it’s going to be a good pitching matchup: really a duel of pitchers. There are going to be some good games, one-run or two-run ball games. The best thing is to just get out there and play since we have such a young team. They’ll be ready to go.”

The first double-header of the weekend begins on April 11 at 2 p.m. against the Malone Pioneers.