After a week that saw the Bulldogs score 41 runs in just four games, the Ferris State softball team returns home to take on the Grand Valley State Lakers and the Purdue Northwest Pride.
The Bulldogs’ offense took off against Roosevelt, winning both games against the Lakers by scores of 13-0 and 10-2. Junior first baseman Alexis Kozlowski was the standout player against the Lakers, going 5-7 in her at-bats with two doubles and six RBIs.
While in the 13-0 win, junior pitcher Cecelia Bell threw a five-inning no-hitter, striking out four while walking three batters before the game was called due to the mercy rule.
Against the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers, the Bulldogs fell in the first game by a score of 5-3, before the offense took off in the second game, winning by a score of 15-5. This is the most runs Ferris has scored in a game since 2021, when the Bulldogs also took down Wisconsin Parkside, this time by a score of 16-2.
The Bulldogs (21-16, 7-5 in GLIAC) return home to Big Rapids to take on the Grand Valley State Lakers (17-13, 7-1 in GLIAC).
Grand Valley took down the Bulldogs a week ago in their two matchups, with the Bulldogs losing 7-4 and 6-0.
The Lakers are currently on a six-game winning streak and in those games, they average 5.6 runs per game, while only allowing 1.8 runs per game during the streak.
Grand Valley’s offense is led by freshman infielder Camryn Hall, who this season has a .474 average, a 1.035 OPS, 46 hits, five doubles, 13 RBIs, while walking six times and only striking out four times.
The Bulldogs’ pitching staff will look to limit the high-powered Lakers offense, and one pitcher who will look to limit runs is Bell. Bell has pitched a team-leading 94 innings, having a 3.28 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, while striking out 59 batters and only walking 25.
Ferris will then take on the Purdue Northwest Pride (19-15, 5-5 in GLIAC) for the second matchup of the weekend. A week ago, the Bulldogs took down the Pride in their two games, winning 7-1 and then 6-5.
The Bulldogs look to take down the Pride yet again, as the offense will look to take advantage of a struggling Pride pitching staff. The Pride’s staff this season has an ERA of 4.04, with three pitchers having an ERA over 4.60.
A Bulldog who will look to take advantage of this is freshman outfielder Ava Gardner. Gardner has a team-leading .374 average, nine doubles, two triples, while adding six home runs and 24 RBIs.
Freshman pitcher Katie Shuboy spoke about the team’s season so far.
“I feel good about our team as a whole,” Shuboy said. “We have shown great team effort in both our wins and losses. We do a great job of picking each other up, and everyone has stepped up to do their part.”
The Ferris State Bulldogs softball team will return home to take on the Grand Valley State Lakers on Saturday, April 11, at 1 p.m. and then at 3 p.m. Then the Bulldogs will take on the Purdue Northwest Pride the following day, with first pitch being at 1 p.m. and then again at 3 p.m.