Ferris State Softball Pulls Off Upset To Reach GLIAC Semifinals In Ohio

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University softball squad advanced into the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Semifinals by upsetting third-seeded Davenport 6-5 on Saturday (May 7) in Sandusky, Ohio.

The sixth-seeded Bulldogs scored five runs in the sixth innings after falling behind 3-1 and held on for the victory to advance to the GLIAC Semifinals. FSU is slated to face second-seeded Saginaw Valley State next on Saturday at approximately 4:30 p.m. (ET).

Davenport took the initial lead with a run in the second, but the Bulldogs answered in the top of the third to tie the game back up before the Panthers responded with two runs in the bottom. The score stood until a big sixth inning for FSU in which the Bulldogs put five runs on the board. DU got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth, but Ferris State shut down the Panthers in the seventh for the triumph.

Bulldog senior outfielder Paige Kortz tallied two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs for the Bulldogs at the plate. Meanwhile, senior catcher Ali Magiera also had two RBI's and a hit for FSU with both third baseman Amara Zukowski and right fielder Kylie Winkels driving in a run each.

Freshman Kristina Baar got the start for the Bulldogs and allowed only one run with three strikeouts and three walks. Meanwhile, junior Kristie Gray earned the win by pitching six innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits with three K's and two walks.

The victory in the GLIAC Tournament was the Bulldogs' first in the annual postseason event since beating Saginaw Valley State in the opening game in 2016.

This year's event was moved to a single-elimination format due to the postponement of Friday's action. The winner of the Bulldogs' semifinal game against Saginaw Valley State will advance to Sunday's league championship game starting at 10 a.m. (ET).