Ferris State Softball Draws Split With Rival GVSU On Senior Day In Big Rapids

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team battled archrival Grand Valley State to a hard-fought home split on Saturday (April 18) as the two West Michigan rival squared off at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids.

Ferris State recorded an exciting 5-2 win over the Lakers in the opening game of the twinbill before GVSU held off a late comeback attempt by FSU to pull out a 6-3 win in the nightcap before a large crowd of fans.

Senior pitcher Cara DeLange, who is the Bulldogs' lone senior this season, was honored and recognized between games as part of "Senior Day" activities in Big Rapids. She pitched a majority of game two for the Bulldogs in front of the home fans following the senior day celebration.

In game one, Ferris State scored four runs in the first inning to grab the early lead over the Lakers. Then, after GVSU trimmed the margin in half during the second inning, the Bulldogs added an insurance run in the third and shut down the Lakers over the final five innings of action to pull out the triumph.

Grand Valley State outhit FSU 10-8 in the opener, but Ferris State received a complete-game effort from pitcher Megan Vanderwal, who improved to 3-3 in the circle with the triumph. She struck out three batters and walked one in the earning the victory.

FSU was paced at the plate by outfielder Sam Bates, who produced three hits and scored twice in the win. She doubled in the contest and Ferris State also received three RBI's from first baseman Kayti Carlson, who hit a home run for the Bulldogs in the opening inning. Rachael Gabrielson had two hits and Bailey Darwin posted an RBI in the opening game.

Grand Valley State hit two homers and three players totaled two hits each for the Lakers. Pitcher Courtney Reinhold took the loss and fell to 11-5 overall on the year after striking out four and walking one in six innings of work. She allowed five runs on eight hits.

In game two, the Lakers struck first with two runs in the second inning before FSU tied the game back up with two runs in the third. However, the Lakers followed with two more in the bottom of the frame and then added two more in the sixth. Ferris State loaded the bases in its final at-bat in the seventh, but the Lakers managed to keep FSU off the board to complete the victory.

DeLange pitched five and two-thirds innings for Ferris State on Senior Day and allowed six runs on nine hits. She struck out six batters and walked three before Stacy Thompson came on in relief and surrendered only a single hit in two-thirds innings of work.

GVSU received a complete-game effort from Sara Andrasik, who moved to 9-6 on the year with three runs and eight hits allowed in seven innings. She posted four strikeouts and walked two.

Ferris State was led at the plate in the nightcap by Sarah Johnson and Emily Reed, who both posted two hits each, along with catcher Casey Bias, who had a game-high three hits. Reed drove in a run for the Bulldogs while Johnson scored twice.

Meanwhile, GVSU received three RBI's from Teagan Shomin and two others joined her with two hits in the game. Jenna Lenza also knocked in two runs for the Lakers and homered in the contest.

Ferris State wraps up its 16-game homestand on Monday (April 20) as the Bulldogs host Saginaw Valley State in a league twinbill at the FSU Softball Field. First pitch for game one is set for 3 p.m. (ET) with game two to follow at approximately 5 p.m. (ET).