Ferris State Earns Softball Split At Nationally 18th-Ranked Wayne State In Saturday Action

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad earned a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader split at nationally 18th-ranked Wayne State on Saturday (April 1) in the Motor City.

The Bulldogs beat the ranked Warriors 1-0 in a nine-inning thriller in game one before falling 4-1 in the nightcap while posting their third consecutive split to open league action this year.

In the opener, the two squads battled thru eight scoreless innings before FSU's Sam Bates drove in the winning run with a double to left center in the top of the ninth, scoring Lexee Summers.

FSU then shut down the Warriors in the ninth to hold on for the win. Bates tossed a nine-inning shutout in the circle to earn the pitching win for the Bulldogs as she struck out three and allowed seven hits in going the distance.

Bates was able to outduel Wayne State standout pitcher Lyndsay Butler, who dropped to 12-5 overall after giving up the lone run on five hits with six K's and a walk in nine innings of work.

Along with Bates, the Bulldogs got a double from Lexi Hongisto in the triumph. She had a team-high two hits overall.

In game two, the Warriors struck for three runs in the top of the third and added one more in the seventh to build a 4-0 lead. FSU managed to score once in its final at-bat, but could not rally for the win.

Abby Highway tossed the second game for Ferris State and allowed four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk. WSU's Megan Guitar remained unbeaten this season at 8-0 as she allowed only six hits and a single run with eight K's and three walks. Both pitched the entire seven innings.

Ferris State's lone run came on a home run from Sarah Meredith. FSU's Sarah Johnson posted a game-high three hits in the setback.

The Bulldogs will wrap up their weekend league set on the road with a double dip on Sunday (April 2) at Hillsdale. The opening game gets underway at 12 p.m. (ET).