Ferris State Softball Earns Final Day Split At The Lewis Dome Invitational

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team wrapped up action at the Lewis Dome Invitational on Friday (Feb. 25), earning a split on the final day in Rosemont, Ill.

In the opener, Ferris State pushed its winning streak to four consecutive games with a decisive 14-2 triumph over Truman State (Mo.) in five innings in regional action. FSU then jumped in front early, but fell to Hillsdale in the nightcap by a 5-2 count.

Over the two days of action at the early-season event, the Bulldogs posted a 3-1 mark and now have evened their record at 5-5 overall this year after two weekends of action.

In game one against Truman State, the Bulldogs put three runs on the board in the first and four more in the second in building a big advantage. The lead grew to 9-0 in the third and eventually FSU closed out the contest with five more runs in the fifth. Overall, FSU outhit Truman State 14-7 for the afternoon.

The Bulldogs got three hits apiece from outfielder Paige Kortz to go with three from third baseman Amara Zukowski. Right fielder Kylie Winkels drove in four runs and Kortz also had three RBI's with three runs scored. Both Winkels and Zukowski scored three times as well with Abby Mitchell driving in two runs.

FSU's Mckenzie Cleland tossed two and two-thirds of an inning in the circle and allowed only two earned runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Freshman Kristina Baar hurled two and one-thirds of an inning and did not allow a run on three hits while striking out four.

In the finale against Hillsdale, Ferris State took an early 2-1 lead before the Chargers scored three times in the bottom of the second and eventually added an insurance run in the fifth while holding FSU off the board the rest of the way. The Bulldogs were limited to two hits in the game. Both Kortz and Kaitlyn Orme doubled for FSU.

The Bulldogs' Kristie Gray tossed one and two-thirds of an inning, giving up four runs on five hits with a pair of walks and a strikeout. Aryn Gallacher threw four and a third innings and allowed only one earned run on three hits with a K.

Ferris State will head to Florida to take part in The Spring Games set for March 5-11 in Winter Haven, Fla. The Bulldogs are slated to play 12 games in the Sunshine State starting on March 5 with a pair of games versus Holy Family (Pa.) and St. Cloud State (Minn.).