Bulldog Softball Returns To Action But Falls In Home Twin Bill Against Northwood

Highlights & Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad continued a 10-game homestand on Wednesday (April 20) by returning to the field against the Northwood Timberwolves in Big Rapids, but fell short in a pair of conference contests.

The Timberwolves claimed the first two matchups against FSU this season, posting wins of 5-2 and 11-2 in the sweep at the FSU Softball Field in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.

The two teams battled closely in the opener with Ferris State taking the initial lead with the first run of the day in the first before NU answered in the fourth. The Bulldogs regained a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth, but Northwood came back to score in the sixth to knot it back up and then proceeded to score three unanswered runs in the seventh to pull out the triumph. NU totaled nine hits to two for FSU.

The Bulldogs' hits in the opener came from five different batters, including first baseman Evelyn Blood, right fielder Kylie Winkels, center fielder Paige Kortz, second baseman Josie Prince and catcher Ali Magiera. Blood and Winkels both scored while Price and Amara Zukowski notched RBI's in the setback.

A trio of Ferris State pitchers combined to give up only four earned runs and nine hits in seven innings of a action with three walks and two strikeouts. Kristina Baar earned the start before giving way to junior Kristie Gray after a scoreless first. Gray tossed three innings with Aryn Gallacher pitching two and two-thirds of relief before Baar reentered the game in the seventh.

Northwood's Shayna Frank posted her 10th victory of the year, giving up two runs on five hits with 12 strikeouts and five walks. Haley Frank led NU with three hits and an RBI.

In game two, the Timberwolves started fast and scored four runs in the first. FSU notched a run in the both of the inning and later cut the margin to 4-2 in the fifth before NU tallied seven runs in the sixth and shut FSU down in the bottom of the inning to record the 11-2 victory. Northwood had 12 hits overall to six for FSU.

Kortz led the Bulldogs in the nightcap at the plate with two hits and drove in a run. Price also had an RBI in game two. Meanwhile, Blood recorded the only extra-base hit with a double.

Baar again started game two and the Bulldogs eventually pitched both Gray and Gallacher again. Together, they allowed nine earned runs on 12 hits with three walks and two K's.

For Northwood, Hailey Leister picked up the win, tossing four and one-third innings with four strikeouts and two walks while allowing a single earned run on six hits. Anna Gustafson came on late and hurled one and two-thirds of an inning with three K's and a walk. She did not allow a hit or a run.

Ferris State wraps up its homestand by hosting rival Grand Valley State in a rescheduled GLIAC doubleheader on Thursday (April 21) with first pitch for game one set for 3:30 p.m. (ET) at the FSU Softball Field and game two slated for 5:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed online at MiSportsNow.com and on the VUit app.