Ferris State Softball Run Ends In Close GLIAC Tourney Semifinal Setback

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad had its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament run come to an end late Saturday (May 7) as FSU suffered a close 7-4 setback in a back-and-forth affair against second-seeded Saginaw Valley State at Sports Force Parks in Sandusky, Ohio.

The sixth-seeded Bulldogs, who had upset third-seeded Davenport in their opening game of the event early Saturday afternoon, gave SVSU all it could handle in the nightcap, including taking a 4-3 edge in the sixth, but could not pull out the triumph.

With the win, the Cardinals advanced to Sunday's title game in the single-elimination conference tournament while FSU's season came to a close with 19 wins on the year.

The Bulldogs jumped in front by scoring a run in each of their first two at-bats and reclaimed the lead by putting two additional runs on the board in the top of the sixth before the Cardinals answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and held FSU off the board in its final at-bat in the seventh.

For Ferris State, first baseman Evelyn Blood along with outfielder Kylie Winkels and shortstop Kacey Bouche each had two hits. Left fielder Abby Mitchell scored twice with the Bulldogs getting a double from Bouche along with a triple by Blood. Additionally, Blood, Winkels, Mitchell and Bouche all had RBI's for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldog trio of Kristina Baar, Aryn Gallacher and Kristie Gray combined to allow only six earned runs on 10 hits with five walks and a strikeout over six innings of work.

Ferris State's win over Davenport to start the day was the Bulldogs' first postseason win in the GLIAC Tournament since 2016 and FSU's 19 total wins this campaign were its most since notching 20 wins back in 2019. FSU graduates four seniors from this year's squad, including All-GLIAC First Team honoree Paige Kortz, but the bulk of the roster is eligible to return next year.