Bulldog Softball Falls In Sunday League Doubleheader At Northwood

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad suffered a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) setbacks to Northwood on Sunday (April 18) in a league doubleheader in Midland.

The host Timberwolves took a close 2-1 victory in the opener and then topped FSU 9-1 in five innings in the nightcap.

In the opener, Northwood limited FSU to four hits and a single run in a game that was scoreless for the initial four and a half innings of action. The Timberwolves scored their only two runs of the game in the fifth, but it was enough to hold up for the victory. Ferris State scored once in the sixth, but could not get the tying run.

The Bulldogs got hits from shortstop Kodi Ramirez along with catcher Ali Magiera, designated player Justice Ruggles and right fielder Evelyn Blood in the decision. Magiera had FSU's lone RBI of the game, scoring center fielder Paige Kortz in the sixth.

Freshman pitcher Aryn Gallacher tossed all six innings defensively for the Bulldogs, limiting Northwood to two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. NU's Shayna Frank picked up her 13th victory of the year by allowing the Bulldogs to score only once on the four hits. She had eight strikeouts and a single walk.

In game two, Northwood jumped in front early, scoring twice in the first and three more times in the second in building a 5-1 lead. They added a run in the third, two more in the fourth and a single run in the fifth to finish the win. NU outhit FSU 11-4 in the game.

Ramirez, Kortz, Blood and third baseman Brynna Teal all had a hit for FSU. Blood homered to account for the Bulldogs' lone run on a solo shot while Teal doubled in the game. Northwood was led at the plate by shortstop Julia Gross, who homered and drove in four runs on three hits while scoring twice.

FSU's Kristie Gray pitched one and one-third of an inning, allowing five runs on five hits with a walk. Kaitlyn Nugent tossed two and two-thirds of an inning, giving up three runs on four hits with both a walk and a strikeout. Finally, Kylie Masko came on and pitched one-third of an inning and gave ups single run on two hits. Northwood's Taylor Wright picked up the victory, holding FSU to a run on four hits with six K's.

The Bulldogs will return home and host Ashland on Monday (April 19) in league play with the first pitch for game one set for 1 p.m. (ET) at the FSU Softball Field and game two slated to follow at approximately 3 p.m. (ET).