Ferris State Falls In Season Opener At Music City Invitational

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball team officially opened the 2023 campaign on Friday (Feb. 17), falling to Harding (Ark.) by a 15-8 count in day one action at the Music City Invitational near Nashville, Tenn.

The Bulldogs played a single game on Friday in day one action at the event as the nightcap versus Maryville (Mo.) was called off due to cold temperatures.

In the opening game of the year and the debut for the Bulldogs under first-year head coach Jake Schumann, Ferris State produced 11 hits and scored eight runs, but it was not enough as the Bisons totaled 15 runs on 17 hits overall.

Harding jumped in front first with five runs in the top of the opening inning before the Bulldogs answered with three of their own. HU added a single run in the third and two more in the fourth, but FSU pulled back within 8-6 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Bisons came back to score twice in the fifth with FSU scoring once. However, Harding put the game away by adding five in the seventh and holding Ferris State to a single run in. Its final at-bat.

A trio of Bulldogs all had two hits apiece as outfielders Kylie Winkels and Abby Mitchell along with second baseman Josie Prince led the FSU attack. Right fielder Maddie Gkekas scored twice for the Bulldogs while Prince and first baseman Evelyn Blood produced a pair of RBI's each.

Ferris State got doubles from both Price and Gkekas and a total of six different FSU players all drove in at least one run.

The Bulldogs' Catherine O'Donohue earned the start and allowed eight runs on 11 hits with a walk and a strikeout in three and one-thirds innings. Aryn Gallacher came on to pitch three and two-thirds of an inning, giving up two earned runs on six hits with four walks and two K's.

The Bulldogs will return to the field on Saturday (Feb. 18) versus Northwood and Kentucky Wesleyan in regional action starting at 4 p.m. (ET) and 6 p.m. (ET), respectively.