The Ferris State softball team was coming off of two losses to Davenport, but came out strong last week as they went undefeated to start conference play.
The Bulldogs took on the Lake Erie Storm and the Ashland Eagles in double-headers in Ohio on Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26, starting play in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC) and the Bulldogs are now sitting undefeated at 4-0.
The Bulldogs took down the Storm with their batting power as the Bulldogs won the first game 9-6, then the follwoing contest 8-0. The Bulldogs then had a hard fought battle against the Eagles, but the Dawgs found their swing and took the first game 5-2, followed by a 7-4 victory.
Sophomore center fielder Sam Bates gave a little insight as to how the Bulldogs have had success this season.
“A major key that Coach King has been focusing on with us is fundamentals. He has really changed a lot of our swings and the way we throw. Making us stronger and more powerful at the plate and allowing us to throw more runners out when in the field,” Bates said.
It shows that the Bulldogs are having more success at the plate this season as first year coach King has improved the batting average from a .246 mark last year, to the Bulldogs now hitting .308 so far this season.
“I have been working on being more consistent at the plate. Coach has helped with that because he makes sure we are locked in when at the plate. Coach has us working on inside pitches and really seeing the ball when we are in the box,” Bates said.
Next up on the schedule for the Bulldogs are the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, followed by rival Grand Valley State.
“The key to winning those games is being defensively strong and having our line-up be consistent at the plate,” Bates said.
The Bulldogs will be facing SVSU in a double-header before taking on Grand Valley on Sunday, April 3. The games are set to begin at noon and 2 p.m. at Grand Valley.