After a 2-2 week where the Bulldogs swept Purdue Northwest, but got swept by Grand Valley, the Ferris State softball team continues its road trip against the Roosevelt Lakers and the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers.
The Bulldogs’ offense was strong against Purdue Northwest, with freshman outfielder Ava Gardner continuing her hot streak, hitting another home run, in the first game of the two-game series. While senior infielder Jadyn Joseph hit two home runs and four RBIs during her three at-bats against the Pride.
Ferris then took on Grand Valley, where the pitching struggled to find a groove, allowing seven earned runs in game one, losing by a score of 7-4. The fielding for the Bulldogs struggled in game two, with two costly errors, one coming in the second inning, allowing three unearned runs. While the other came in the following inning, allowing one unearned run, they ultimately lost game two 6-0.
Valley on March 24. Photo by: Nolan Matthews | Sports Editor
Head coach Jake Schumann spoke about how he feels the team has performed this season.
“We have done a better job on defense, allowing us to be in games and allowing our offense to play with a little more relaxed freedom,” Schumann said. “Cecelia Bell has been a dog on the mound, and we have found multiple ways to score. We need to work on our consistency. There are days we play like a top 10 team in the country and then others when we struggle to focus and play with energy.”
The Bulldogs (18-15, 4-4 in GLIAC) will first take on the Roosevelt Lakers (7-18, 1-4 in GLIAC) in a two-game series. Last season, Ferris had the Lakers’ number, winning all five games against them, while outscoring them 29 runs to just five last season.
While coming into the matchup, Roosevelt has hit a cold patch in their last 10 games, going just 1-9 while managing to score only 15 runs in those games. With eight of those runs coming against Purdue Northwest in an 8-4 victory.
The Lakers’ pitching staff is led by junior Kailey Hancock, who, thus far in the season, has appeared in 15 games, pitching 65 innings. In those innings, she has a 2.89 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, while striking out 22 and walking 13.
The rest of the Lakers’ pitching staff has struggled outside of Hancock, as in 93 innings, the Lakers have allowed 76 earned runs to the tune of a 7.33 ERA, 110 hits and 88 walks.
The Bulldogs will look to take advantage of this, one player who matches up well is junior first baseman Alexis Kozlowski. Kozlowski on the season has a .343 average, 10 extra base hits, three home runs and 26 RBIs, while walking 10 times and striking out 19 times.
Ferris then will take on the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers (11-19, 2-6 in GLIAC) at the Case Softball Complex in Kenosha.
The Bulldogs have played the Rangers tough in the past, as since 2021 the Bulldogs have a 12-8 record against the Rangers, but went 0-2 against them last season.
The Rangers have one of the better players in the GLIAC, that being senior catcher Mia Johnson. She has a GLIAC leading nine home runs and is also first in batting average with a .470. Johnson currently leads in doubles with 16 and is second in the GLIAC with 26 RBIs and for hits with 39.
Freshman pitcher Katie Shuboy gave her thoughts on how they plan to attack the Rangers offense.
“Going into this weekend, we know we’re facing good competition and a tough lineup,” Shuboy said. “So it’s important to execute our game plan and stay disciplined. Taking the game one pitch at a time and trusting my strong defense behind me will play a big role in that.”
The Ferris State Bulldogs will take on the Roosevelt Lakers on Friday, April 3 at 2 p.m. then again at 4 p.m. Before traveling north the following day to take on the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers at 1 and 3 p.m.