Bulldog Softball Earns Day One Split At The Spring Games In Florida

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad opened its annual appearance in The Spring Games in Florida with a split on Saturday (March 7) in the Sunshine State.

The Bulldogs topped former GLIAC counterpart Hillsdale 7-0 in regional action in the opener before falling to St. Cloud State (Minn.) by a 2-0 score in the nightcap.

In the opener, Ferris State put up a single run in the first inning followed by three more in the second and two in the third to take control. FSU added a run in the fourth to account for the final margin while holding a 10-3 edge in total points for the game.

The Bulldogs were led at the plate by both Jessica Tucci and Madison McLeod with two hits each along with Taylor Buiter, who tallied two RBI's. Outfielder Paige Kortz doubled while the Bulldogs also got home runs from Buiter and Kodi Ramirez in the victory.

Senior Abby Highway tossed the entire game for the Bulldogs and limited the Chargers to only three hits in the shutout win. She had a single strikeout with no walks in the triumph.

In the second game of the day, the Bulldogs gave up two runs in the top of the first to St. Cloud State and that would prove to be the difference in the contest. The Bulldogs were outhit 7-5 for the game.

FSU's five hits in the finale came from five different players with Kylie Winkels along with Kortz, Ali Magiera, Tucci and Kaitlyn Orme all posting a single hit apiece.

Kaitlyn Nugent threw three and one-third innings of action for the Bulldogs. allowing two runs on six hits with three K"s and two walks. Connor Proctor hurled three and two-thirds of an inning and gave up a single hit with two strikeouts and a walk.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Sunday with two more games versus Bentley (Mass.) and Minnesota State in Winter Haven starting at 2:45 p.m. (ET) and 5 p.m. (ET), respectively.