Bulldog Softball Posts Shutout Win During Day Two Split In Evansville

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team closed out day two action on Saturday (Feb. 24) at the Blue Bridge Battle with a second consecutive split in Evansville, Ind.

The Bulldogs rolled to a 12-0 shutout win over Thomas More (Ky.) in regional play in five innings in the afternoon opener before falling to Missouri-St. Louis 13-11 in a tightly-contested nine-inning affair in the nightcap.

Ferris State tallied 16 hits in the game one victory and gave up only two in beating Thomas More for the second time this season. The Bulldogs got four runs in the first inning and produced six in the third before closing the door with single runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Both first baseman Alexis Kozlowski and Catherine O'Donohue had three hits each in the triumph while right fielder Hanna Smith drove in three runs for FSU. Three others drove in two runs each, including Kozlowski along with outfielders Riley Kish and Keelin Wheaton. Second baseman Jadyn Joseph totaled two hits.

Kozlowski homered and tripled for the Bulldogs while both Kish and Wheaton had doubles in the game.

Meanwhile, O'Donohue hurled four innings and struck out three while walking two overall. She allowed only two hits and no runs in earning the win. Sophie Wisniski pitched a single scoreless and hitless inning with a single strikeout and walk.

In game two, the Bulldogs and UMSL battled to a high-scoring contest as the Tritons notched 18 hits and FSU had 12. The Bulldogs scored five times in the second to grab a 5-3 lead, but UMSL answered with three runs in the third.

Ferris State eventually built a 7-4 lead before UMSL answered with a single run in the sixth and three more in the seventh. The Bulldogs tied the game back up in the bottom of the seventh and each team scored three times in the eighth. The game finally ended in the ninth as Missouri-St. Louis managed two runs and held FSU off the board in the bottom of the inning.

FSU got two hits each from catcher Emily Killion along with shortstop Emma Gillard, outfielder Abby Meyer and Wheaton, who drove in two runs. Both Killion and Gillard also had two RBI's while Kozlowski continued her strong offensive performance with three runs batted in. O'Donohue doubled in game two.

Ferris State utilized four pitchers in the finale with the combination of Aryn Gallacher, Izzy Regener, Ashley Webb and Rylie Haist combining to allow nine earned runs on 18 hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

The Bulldogs will wrap up the Blue Bridge Battle on Sunday (Feb. 25) against Tiffin starting at 11 a.m. (ET).