Ferris State Softball Erupts For Eight-Inning Win At Lewis Before Rain Cancels Nightcap

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad returned to the field on Wednesday (March 17) and registered a 12-7 non-league road win over the Lewis Flyers in Romeoville, Ill. 

The Bulldogs won the contest by scoring six times in the eighth inning after the two teams had battled to a tie thru the seven innings of regulation action. 

The two teams were slated to play a regional doubleheader, but the second game was cancelled due to rain and will not be played.

In the victory, Ferris State belted out 14 hits and FSU had two big offensive innings to move to 7-3 overall this year. The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 in the first, but came back to put five runs on the board in the fourth and one more in the fifth. 

The Flyers eventually tied the game back up with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but FSU notched six runs in the eighth and limited the Flyers to a single run in their final at-bat.

The Bulldogs were led at the plate by catcher Ali Magiera, who notched a team-high tying three RBI's and two hits, along with third baseman Amara Zukowski. She finished with a squad-best three hits with three RBI's and two runs scored. 

Both Magiera and left fielder Abby Mitchell homered for the Bulldogs while Magiera, Zukowski and shortstop Kodi Ramirez all had doubles. Mitchell totaled three hits and drove in two runs in addition to scoring twice while first baseman Kaitlyn Orme compiled two hits, two RBI's and a run. FSU also got two hits from designated player Justice Ruggles, who also scored twice.

In the circle, FSU's Kristie Gray tossed six and one-third innings with six runs allowed on eight hits to go with three walks and a strikeout. Kylie Masko tossed one and two-thirds of an inning, giving up only a single run on two hits with two K's and a walk.

The Bulldogs are slated to open Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play at home against the Northwood Timberwolves on Wednesday, March 24, with the first pitch set for 2 p.m. (ET) for game one at the FSU Softball Field and game two slated to follow at approximately 4 p.m. (ET).