Bulldog Softball Closes Opening Weekend Strong With Win In Sunday Split At Music City Invitational

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team closed out its season-opening action in Tennessee on a strong note, posting an eight-run victory in the weekend finale while earning a final day split at the Music City Invitational in Smyrna, Tenn.

The Bulldogs fell in the opener on Sunday to Southern Indiana by an 8-3 score in regional action, but bounced back for an impressive 10-2 triumph over another regional foe in Missouri S&T in afternoon action.

Overall, Ferris State split its final four games of the six-game tournament, which represented its first outdoor action of the campaign.

In the opener on Sunday, Southern Indiana pounded out 16 hits and utilized a big six-run second inning to grab the win. The Bulldogs notched a pair of runs in the fifth to pull back within 7-3, but could get no closer.

Overall, FSU had seven hits in the game with senior Paige Kortz totaling three hits, two runs scored and two RBI's. She both homered and tripled in the contest. Outfielder Kylie Winkels also had a pair of hits with two doubles in the game.

Freshman Kristina Baar tossed one inning of action and allowed six runs on five hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Meanwhile, Kristie Gray came on and hurled six innings, giving up only two runs on 11 hits with a walk.

FSU"s bats came alive in game two as the Bulldogs scored in all five innings of action while notching 13 hits in the win over Missouri S&T.

In the finale, Evelyn Blood tallied a team-leading three hits and three RBI's for FSU with Winkels also producing three hits and driving in a run. Second baseman Josie Prince accounted for two RBI's with a hit and a run scored while Kacey Bouche drew a pair of walks and scored twice. A total of nine different Bulldog players had an least one hit in the contest and seven different players scored.

The Bulldogs had four extra base hits in the outing with Blood posting a double and FSU also generating three triples off the bats of Winkels, Blood and Dakota Cloutier.

FSU pitcher Mckenzie Cleland threw two innings of work to get the win, allowing only a single run on four hits with a strikeout. Aryn Gallacher tossed three innings and allowed only one run on two hits with a walk.

The Bulldogs will next compete in the Lewis Dome Invitational on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 24-25, with four games on the slate. FSU will face Ursuline and McKendree to open the event in Rosemont (Ill.) on day one Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (ET) and 7 p.m. (ET), respectively.