Bulldogs Take #10 Grand Valley Deep Three Times In Upset Victory, Series Split

Allendale, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team knocked off rival and nationally 10th ranked Grand Valley State to split the Saturday (April 2) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) series in Allendale with a decisive 8-3 win in game two on the strength of three long-balls, avenging a narrow 3-1 loss in game one.

In the series opener, Ferris State hit the ball hard but only scratched across one run in the 3-1 loss. GVSU scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the first inning off of sophomore starting pitcher McKenzie Cleland. Cleland gave up just three hits, but walked three and allowed three runs in four innings of action. Sophomore second baseman Josie Prince doubled senior designated hitter Kaitlyn Orme home in the top of the second inning to cut the Laker lead down to two. 

For the Lakers, Hannah Beatus allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to pick of the victory for the Lakers. Cleland fell to 5-4 on the campaign for the Dawgs. 

In the second game, the Bulldogs erupted and launched three home runs in the second game to batter the Lakers. Ferris State managed the feat on just six hits. The offensive effort was aided when the Bulldogs drew nine walks, including three alone by sophomore first baseman Evelyn Blood.

Ferris State senior centerfielder Paige Kortz hit her team-best seventh bomb of the year, hammering a two-run shot in the top of the first inning to open up a 2-0 lead, scoring sophomore third baseman Amara Zukowski.

The Bulldogs jumped right back on the Lakers when the next batter, senior rightfielder Kylie Winkels, followed it up with a solo shot and her fourth round-tripper of the year and a 3-0 Bulldog lead.

GVSU starting pitcher Hannah Dieck was chased from the contest after allowing two walks, two first-inning home runs, and a pair of hits for the early 3-0 deficit.

In the top of the third, Winkels took a 1-1 pitch deep for her second home run of the day, fifth of the year, and a 4-0 Bulldog lead of of relief pitcher Genesis Eggart.

The Lakers pulled back to within a run with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, but sophomore starting pitcher Aryn Gallacher escaped the inning. Gallacher struck out four Lakers on the day, scattered ten hits and allowed three runs and issued three walks in her second victory of the year.

In the top of the fourth, Ferris State ripped off three more runs on a bases clearing single by Prince. Pricne scored Orme, Blood and Zukowski for a 7-3 Bulldog lead.

Ferris State piled on an eighth run when Paige Kortz doubled in Zukowski in the top of the fifth inning.

The Bulldogs stranded nine Lakers on base in the second of the double header. Eight Bulldogs reached base in the second game. Kortz (3), Prince (3), and Winkels (2) earned all of Ferris State's eight RBI's in the 8-3 victory over national #10 Grand Valley.

With the win, Ferris State picked up their first league victory, and heads to Caledonia to take on Davenport on Sunday (April 3) at 1:00 pm to open the GLIAC doubleheader.