Ferris State Splits First Two GLIAC Softball Games On Road At Ashland Friday

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad opened Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play with a league split against the Ashland Eagles on Friday (March 24) in Ashland, Ohio.

The Bulldogs won their first conference game of the year by beating Ashland 9-5 in the opener before the Eagles rallied for an 11-8 victory in the nightcap to earn the split.

AU jumped in front early 2-0 in game one before the Bulldogs struck for three runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. After Ashland cut the margin to a single run in the bottom of the fifth, Ferris State tacked on three more runs in the sixth and allowed only a single run the rest of teh way in pulling out the victory.

FSU totaled 10 hits in the first contest, whcih included three hits from shortstop Sarah Johnson to go with two each from pitcher Sam Bates and outfielder Jaclyn Stone. The Bulldogs received four doubles off the sticks of Johnson, Bates, Lexi Hongisto and Abby Highway with Stone adding a team-best two RBI's in the win.

Bates claimed the win as she hurled four and one-third innings with four runs allowed on 10 hits and a strikeout. Highway pitched in relief to earn the save in two and two-thirds innings. She gave up only a single run on four hits and a walk.

In game two, both teams tallied 14 hits apiece in a contest that the Bulldogs led 8-6 heading into the seventh inning when the host Eagles struck for five runs to record the victory. Ferris State had fought back from a 6-4 deficit to take the lead with four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Both Bates and Hongisto notched three hits each for Ferris State with Johnson, Emily Reed and Emily Smith totaling two apiece. Bates doubled twice with Reed and Hongisto notching one two-bagger each.

Offensively, Bates drove in three runs and Reed had two RBI's for the Bulldogs in the setback.

Highway hurled six and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Senior Megan Hiler tossed one-third of an inning and did not allow a run or a hit.

Ferris State, which has currently won eight of its last 14 games overall, wraps up its weekend road trip by visiting Ohio Dominican on Saturday (March 25) in Columbus. The opening game gets underway at 11 a.m. (ET) with game two to follow at approximately 1 p.m. (ET).