Bulldogs Split Double Header with Davenport

Caledonia, Mich. - The Ferris State women's softball team in what was a home series played at Davenport University split the double-header, coming from behind for a 7-6 victory on a walk off home run before falling on 17-0 in the series finale on Wednesday, March 27 at Farmers Insurance Complex in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.

Game one was a back and forth slugfest as both teams hammered three home runs. Ferris State took a 5-1 lead after back-to-back home runs by sophomore centerfielder Paige Kortz and sophomore second baseman Kodi Ramirez, but the Panthers responded to take a 6-5 lead with a pair of seventh inning home runs.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, senior infielder Logan Fleming cashed in again as she crushed her first home run of the season over the left field fence for a walk-off two-run home run. 

Ferris State finished with 10 hits in the game, while Davenport finished with eight. On the mound, junior Abby Highway picked up the win in relief recording one out in the top of the seventh inning after the Panthers had retaken the lead. Freshman pitcher Conner Proctor started the contest for Ferris State and went 6.2 innings, recording four strikeouts, and allowing six runs in the effort.

The Panthers sent Mallory Teunissen to the mound who went the distance, pitching 6.1 innings and struck out nine Bulldogs, but could not finish the bottom of the seventh inning cleanly as Fleming spoiled the party.

In the second game, the Panthers leapt out to a 5-0 lead by virtue of a three-run home run by Rachel Griffin in the first inning, followed by a two-run home run by Lauren French, chasing Bulldog freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Nugent in favor of Highway who navigated out of the second inning cleanly.

Davenport hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and scored nine times to take a 17-0 lead. Nugent allowed eight runs on nine hits as four Bulldog pitchers saw action in the second game.

For the Panthers, Ellie Meulinberg went the distance, allowing no runs in five innings with seven strikeouts. Fleming had two of Ferris State's four hits in the contest.

Ferris State returns home for the home opener at the Bulldog Softball Field on Saturday (March 30) for a GLIAC twin-bill against the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers with first pitches set for 12 and 2 pm EST. Stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com for more information about game times.