Ferris State Draws GLIAC Split Against Ashland As Six-Game Homestand Comes To Close

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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University Bulldogs picked up another Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) split on Monday (April 22) as the Bulldogs squared off against the Ashland Eagles in league softball action at the FSU Softball Field.

The Bulldogs wrapped up a six-game homestand by pulling out a 4-2 victory in the opener before suffering a 3-1 setback in the finale in a pair of tightly-contested league games versus an AU team that was third overall in the league.

Ferris State got off to a big start as FSU put four runs on the board in the first inning of game one. The four runs proved to be enough as AU managed only a single run in the second and one more in the sixth despite outhitting the Bulldogs 9-6 for the game.

FSU utilized a trio of pitchers with the combination of Kaitlyn Nugent, Connor Proctor and Abby Highway combining to allow only two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Nugent got the start and tossed two innings, giving up only a single run, before Proctor hurled the next three scoreless frames. Highway earned the save as she threw the final two frames and held AU to a single run.

Offensively, six different Bulldog players had hits with both second baseman Kodi Ramirez and left fielder Jessica Tucci drawing doubles. Tucci drove in two runs while Logan Fleming also had an RBI while Madison McLeod earned a sacrifice fly.

In game two, the two squads battled thru four scoreless innings before Ashland finally put the first run on the board in the fifth. The Eagles added two more in the sixth and gave up only a single run to the Bulldogs in the seventh in coming out with the split. They again totaled nine hits with FSU posting five.

Third baseman Lexi Hongisto accounted for the Bulldogs' only RBI. Ramirez, Hongisto, first baseman Kaitlyn Orme, center fielder Paige Kortz and right fielder Kylie Winkels all produced hits in the nightcap.

Ferris State used the same trio of pitchers in game two and got another strong performance from the rotation as the trio allowed only three runs on nine hits. Nugent tossed the first three innings before both Proctor and Highway threw two each. Together, they posted four strikeouts and walked none in the game.

Ashland also got an impressive performance from pitcher Hannah Stroe in the final game as she earned her 14th victory of the year by limiting FSU to a single run on five hits with five K's.

With the split on Monday, the Bulldogs currently have 10 league wins on the year and are tied for sixth place overall in total victories with boht Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State.

The Bulldogs, who have four regular-season games remaining, will visit West Michigan rival Grand Valley State on Thursday (April 25) for a league twinbill in Allendale. Game one is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. (ET) with the finale at 5:30 p.m. (ET).

Ferris State then returns home on Saturday (April 25) for its final two regular-season tilts against Northwood at the FSU Softball Field on Senior Day starting at noon.